With the 2025 NFL regular season quickly approaching, now’s the time to get in on season-long bets.
FanDuel Sportsbook is conducting FanDuel Futures Day on Tuesday, August 26 where you can get profit boost tokens around various futures markets throughout the day. The markets will be split up throughout the day, but they will include odds to win the Super Bowl and hypothetical Super Bowl matchups, odds to make or miss the playoffs, win totals, division winners, and player milestones. Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook on Tuesday to take advantage of FanDuel Futures Day.
Let’s do a quick rundown on how the 2025 offseason/preseason has shaken out for each AFC South team.
Odds to win the AFC South: +110
Vibes around top running back Joe Mixon are absolutely horrible. He is currently on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, rather than the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, as he continues to rehab from a complicated foot/ankle injury. He’ll probably miss the first four games of the season on Injured Reserve (IR) but there’s no telling if/when he’ll make a 2025 return. That leaves Houston’s running back room as a bit of a mess, with former rookie standout Dameon Pierce battling 29-year-old Nick Chubb for the lead role.
Beyond that, though, the Texans’ worst unit — offensive line — seems to be bound for improvement with a new offensive staff and second-round tackle Aireontae Erery in town. It’d be hard for that group to be any worse than it was in 2024. Former Jaguar Christian Kirk will likely be Nico Collins’ running mate at receiver, even after Houston drafted Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
On the other side of the ball, second-year safety Calen Bullock has made his presence known throughout the offseason as a rangy ballhawk. DeMeco Ryans’ defense figures to be among the best in the league this year.
Odds to win the AFC South: +340
Hold your nose: third-year head coach Shane Steichen recently announced Daniel Jones as the Colts’ starting quarterback after an offseason battle with former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson. Yuck.
Jones will provide a level of consistency and competence that the Colts haven’t had at the position in a while, but that’s not exactly a high bar to clear. Indianapolis will lean on star running back Jonathan Taylor and rookie tight end Tyler Warren, who seems due for a big Year 1 role after a strong offseason, for offensive production.
The Colts have a case for being one of the most improved defenses with their hiring of Lou Anarumo to replace our old pal Gus Bradley. Unfortunately for them, though, their secondary remains razor-thin, even after turning to free agency for reinforcements.
Ben Solak noted for ESPN:
When I was at practice, none of these defensive backs practiced: starting safety Nick Cross, starting nickel Kenny Moore II , depth cornerback JuJu Brents, depth cornerback Jaylon Jones. Brents and/or Jones might become starting CBs following the season-ending injury to third-round draft pick Justin Walley (who also didn’t practice, if that bears mentioning).
… Indianapolis already had an LB2 question next to Zaire Franklin and now has a CB2 question opposite free agent addition Charvarius Ward. If injuries linger for Moore or Scott, the Colts will have a nickel question or a strong safety question, too. That’s a lot for a defense in its first season under a new coordinator (Lou Anarumo), with two new free agents still onboarding in Ward and safety Cam Bynum in a scheme that relies on communication in zone coverage more than almost any other.
Odds to win the AFC South: +290
Offseason storylines in Jacksonville have rightfully been centered around No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter, who is attempting to be the NFL’s first two-way player in some time. He’s practiced a bit more on offense than defense because he was more refined as a cornerback than a receiver as a prospect. It’ll be fun to see him implemented in Liam Coen’s offensive scheme, and the defense could desperately use some playmaking behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker up front.
Parker Washington has arguably been the biggest “winner” of the Jaguars’ training camp program. The third-year wideout won’t see a high workload on offense unless Hunter, Brian Thomas Jr., or free agent acquisition Dyami Brown misses time — but Washington is expected to be the main return man on a standout special teams unit that also features a pair of 2024 Pro Bowlers in punter Logan Cooke and long snapper Ross Matiscik. Kicker Cam Little is looking to build off his record-breaking rookie campaign and electric 70-yarder in the first week of the preseason.
There have been whispers of a looming trade considering the depth of Jacksonville’s running back room. Travis Etienne is a fantastic albeit rarely healthy player, and Tank Bigsby is a sturdy rusher but doesn’t contribute much on passing downs. Perhaps one of them will be moved to make room on the roster for rookies Bhayshul Tuten, who’s looked great during preseason action, and LeQuint Allen, who’s already the best pass-protector in the unit.
“We’ve seen great things from all four of those guys,” Coen said recently, “knowing that it’s going to be darn near impossible to have four with a jersey on gameday. That’s the challenge that we have to work through … we’ve got some work to do over the next few weeks here before Carolina to figure out who’s going get a jersey, and special teams has a lot to do with that as well.”
The Jaguars have been mixing and matching offensive line groupings to determine the best five starters. The fact that they traded away Fred Johnson is perhaps a sign that they like the depth there.
It’s difficult to project much from the other side of the ball since we’ve never seen defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile call plays before. That said, it’s been encouraging to see: free agent cornerback Jourdan Lewis shining during camp, defensive ends Hines-Allen and Walker looking loose after being asked to put on weight last year, and defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Maason Smith returning from their respective injuries.
Perhaps the biggest question concerning the Jaguars’ roster is who will start at safety next to free agent pickup Eric Murray. It seems that the job is Andrew Wingard’s to lose.
I highly recommend Travis’ 53-man roster projection for further insight into the Jaguars’ offseason.
Odds to win the AFC South: +700
It’s been an up-and-down offseason for No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, though that’s to be expected for any rookie passer. He has improved throughout the preseason. His pass-catching options beyond former Jaguar Calvin Ridley are mundane, but Tennessee’s ground game could be feasible with reliable veteran Tony Pollard running behind an underrated offensive line. Scat back Tyjae Spears is in a boot with a high ankle sprain — his Week 1 availability is uncertain.
Star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons scuffled with Ward during a training camp practice, but the latter didn’t mind. “It was fun, and I think it was what we needed. We love competing, just with me and Jeff, and I’m excited to have that man as my teammate.”
The Titans have a solid defensive coordinator in Dennard Wilson, a Mike MacDonald disciple, but it remains to be seen if there’s enough talent on that side of the ball to make any kind of noise. Last year’s top free agent signing, L’Jarius Sneed, finished the season on IR with a 36.3 PFF grade. Simmons is the only thing close to being a household name on that side of the ball, though rookie safety Kevin Winston Jr. and second-year ‘backer Credic Gray have played well in the preseason.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!