This time last summer, Las Vegas bookmakers had plenty of questions about the Washington Commanders — and it made sense why.
The team moved on from veteran head coach Ron Rivera, brought in a brand-new staff and drafted LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick.
Their season win total was set at [O/U] 6.5 video games.
All the Commanders did was journey Daniels to a 12-5 file, a street playoff win over the top-seeded Detroit Lions and a berth within the NFC Championship Game in opposition to the eventual world champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Washington was two unhealthy quarters away from the Super Bowl.
The query now’s, can they run it again?
It’s a polarizing query within the betting markets, the place the Commanders are totaled at [O/U] 9.5 wins with costs as little as 2/1 to win the NFC East and 9/1 to win the convention.
They’re additionally favored (-145) to make the playoffs.
Washington will want Daniels to keep away from the ol’ Year 2 regression and it feels paramount that the workforce efficiently navigates wideout Terry McLaurin’s recent trade request. McLaurin has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in 5 straight seasons, and he caught a career-best 13 touchdowns final 12 months.
“There’s urgency to sign Terry,” a supply close to the Commanders advised me. “He’s their best playmaker and one of the best deep threats in the NFL. They’re trying to build around Daniels the way Baltimore did with Lamar Jackson.”
We’ll see if each side can attain an settlement.
Daniels is the unquestioned headliner after finishing 69% of his passes for 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns as a rookie. He rushed for nearly 900 yards and added six extra scores on the bottom, too.
People gush over his instincts and decision-making expertise.
“They do a lot of virtual reality drills with him behind closed doors at super speed,” the supply continued. “When they challenge him mentally, they get more out of him. They know he’ll be ready to go physically.
“It’s robust to seek out anybody in that constructing who thinks final 12 months was a fluke.”
Respect for Daniels is no different among bettors and bookmakers, either. Only Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have shorter odds to win league MVP at sportsbooks across the United States.
The hype is actual.
Jayden Daniels’ 2025 NFL MVP odds
DraftKings: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
BetMGM: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Caesars: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
SuperBook: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
FanDuel: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Circa: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
I’m hesitant to say the Commanders will match last year’s surprise playoff run and expectations are understandably different when you’re trying to sustain success. But offseason additions like Deebo Samuel, Laremy Tunsil, Von Miller and Javon Kinlaw present optimism for double-digit victories.
It’ll additionally assist if Washington converts near 79% of its fourth-down conversions, successful fee that led the league a 12 months in the past.
Assuming McLaurin returns to the fold, I like Washington’s Over.
PICK: Commanders (-110) Over 9.5 wins
Sam Panayotovich is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and the BetMGM Network. He previously worked for WGN Radio, NBC Sports and VSiN. Follow him on Twitter @spshoot.
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