NFL Preseason Power Rankings
Entering the preseason, the latest power rankings place the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, as prime contenders for the title. The Chiefs already have an excellent roster which will now be even better with a healthy Justyn Ross. The WR has been lighting things up in training and is ready to show his talent and full arsenal of moves in the playoffs.
Coming in second are the Philadelphia Eagles. They had the third-best offense in the regular season, which improved in the playoffs. The offensive line remains virtually the same, with D’Andre Swift replacing Miles Sanders.
The San Francisco 49ers’ Trey Lance is already drawing a lot of attention, and he is expected to pair well with Brock Purdy, who is coming off an injury. With three NFC Championship appearances and a single Super Bowl game, it seems that the 49ers are a team that should never be written off.
Fourth on the power rankings list are the Cincinnati Bengals. They may have ranked higher if it weren’t for Joe Burrow’s calf injury. Nevertheless, Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner II have already shown that they could be standouts for the coming season.
The Buffalo Bills are fifth in the rankings, despite not filling out certain spots in the defense. Terrel Bernard, Tyrel Dodson and Baylon Spector are all contenders to fill in the missing position in the defense, but it remains to be seen which one of the three will prove to be the best pick.
NFL Preseason Predictions and Betting Tips
Early NFL preseason predictions view the game between the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans as the one that stands out the most. The Texans are the favourites in the matchup at 1.59 odds, as opposed to the 2.50 offered on the Patriots.
Elsewhere, the Las Vegas Raiders will be welcoming the San Francisco 49ers. The visitors are primed standouts at 1.59 odds, while the home team comes at 2.55 odds to win the game.
More so, the Cincinnati Bengals will open their preseason with a match versus the Green Bay Packers. Interestingly, Green Bay ranks as the favourite at 1.52 amidst Joe Burrow’s injury. Cincinnati to win comes at 2.70.
Preseason Players to Watch
There are going to be a lot of players to watch for before the start of the regular season. We have a lot of preseason heroes in mind, but only a few that should be mentioned. Miami Dolphins’ Zach Sieler is one that comes to mind. He ranked fourth in run percentage last season and it is going to be crucial for him to get as many reps with the new system that Vic Fangio is getting ready to implement.
Parker Washington from the Jacksonville Jaguars is tipped to be the most fun player to watch for the start of the season. His starting spot is not guaranteed during the regular season. But he has enough time to show his worth.
Finally, Green Bay’s tight end Luke Musgrave promises to be one of the highest offensive threats for the team. There is a great chance that he becomes LaFleur’s second target option behind Christian Watson, even during the regular season.
NFL Rookies to Watch
Our NFL preseason predictions can’t miss some of the best rookies of the season. In the prime position is definitely Bijan Robinson, drafted by the Falcons. Not a lot of rookies have received top-10 draft capital over the past years, and yet it seems that Robinson has.
Alongside him, the number one draft pick, Bruce Young, should make his name heard from the start in the Carolina Panthers uniform. Also, the Seattle Seahawks have drafted Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the 20th overall pick. He is an NFL-ready receiver who is tipped to receive a high volume of minutes right off the bat.
Finally, Jalen Carter, the 9th overall pick from the Philadelphia Eagles, is an immense talent. He has enough players around him to rub off and learn the ropes. It is the best setting for a 22-year old player to develop and make his name in the league.
Top NFL Preseason Bookmakers
