Anticipation is hotly building as we head towards the opening of the NFL season, and betting markets are beginning to take shape, with DraftKings among the first to offer Week One lines shortly after the schedule announcement. While official 2026 Week One spreads are typically finalized in May, early projections and comparable opening odds from recent seasons offer a strong preview of how bookmakers are likely to price the opening slate.
As tradition dictates, the Super Bowl champions will be first to play, with the Seattle Seahawks, who triumphed over the New England Patriots back in February, kicking off proceedings against a yet-to-be-announced opponent. At time of writing, the only fixture to be fully confirmed is the International Series event, where the Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, Sept. 10. With scant information currently on offer, Draftkings lines are often based on pre-season form as well as other factors.
Why Sports Fans Are Looking at DraftKings
With the full schedule unavailable until May this year, the early release of odds and betting numbers by DraftKings are among the most intriguing of the year, with myriad factors being taken into account. They look at pre-season friendly form, as well as the off season movement of rookies and established stars, and other data picked up from during the NFL’s downtime.
Pundits, fans, and bettors alike find themselves looking at DraftKings as an early indicator of form for NFL teams, and bettors especially have a range of terms to consider for DraftKings promotions to get the most out of their online betting experiences.
Who Are the Favorites for 2026-27 NFL Glory?
Newly minted champs Seattle Seahawks are rightly put in prime position for further glory in the 2026-27 season, with futures odds of +800. This comes in the wake of their comeback victory over New England Patriots at Superbowl 60 in February, in Santa Clara, California. The Seahawks won their second Super Bowl title at the Levi’s Stadium, and will start in prime position against their unknown opponents in the Thursday Night Opener. Los Angeles Dodgers are predicted to make a strong run towards success with close odds of +900, but all this is likely to change in the wake of the upcoming draft.
Shifts and Movements
As mentioned, the draft itself can affect DraftKings lines, with big names and rookies alike set to move between teams. The overall favorite for first pick is Fernando Mendoza, currently of Indiana, heavily favored to move to Las Vegas Raiders, with the betting odds all in agreement of the move of the star quarterback west. David Bailey, Arvell Reese and Ty Simpson are tied at +9000 odds for next-most likely pick at No. 1, although it looks like Mendoza has this one in the bag.
The NFL Draft significantly impacts DraftKings Week 1 lines by adjusting spreads and totals based on rookies expected to make an immediate impact – specifically elite QBs, WRs, and defensive playmakers. High-impact rookies, like a top-drafted RB or QB, can shift lines by half a point to over a point depending on team needs and position.
With kick-off so far away, it’s hard to predict with certainty any outcomes of NFL first week matches, and will be until the full schedule is available next month. But early birds DraftKings will be offering odds on week one nonetheless, with their expertise coming into play, throwing focus on off-season events and the looming draft.
