Best NFL Picks Today

Shaheed is a threat to top this total with one catch, especially since he’s excellent versus man-to-man coverage, something the Patriots run at a high rate. What’s more, WR1 Jaxson-Smith Njigba draws added attention from the Pats secondary (that’s hoping CB Christian Gonzalez does sit out), leaving Shaheed in single coverage. Shaheed, who arrived at the 2025 trade deadline, is expected to have a bigger role and projections range from 37 to as many as 46 yards in Week 1.

Los Angeles is 8-11 SU across the last 19 head-to-heads vs San Francisco, with only four wins by four or more points. This will be the healthiest version of the 49ers we've seen in a while and they arrive in Melbourne six days before kickoff, giving them nearly a full week to adjust to the 17-hour time difference. The Rams, meanwhile, won’t arrive until one day before the game following a 15-hour flight, which is a questionable approach to a regular-season rivalry matchup. Give me the points!

Lamar Jackson faces a blast from AFC North past when he and the Ravens take on the Colts and DC Lou Anarumo in Week 1. During his tenue with Cincinnati, Anarumo couldn’t slow down Jackson consistently and the Ravens QB chewed up his blitz-heavy schemes. Jackson recorded several multi-TD passing games versus those Bengals teams and constantly ranks out among the best QBs vs. blitz in the NFL. New Baltimore OC Declan Doyle got to work against two blitz-centric foes in joint practices this summer – Washington and Minnesota – ironing out the wrinkles against similar pressure before this Week 1 outing. I like Lamar to make Indy pay with two or more passing TDs.

Consistency has been scarce in Duval County, but the 2026 season sees the Jaguars with their most steady foundation in years. Head coach Liam Coen enters Year 2 with his offense intact and the Jacksonville defense builds on a Top 10 stop unit last season. The same can’t be said for Cleveland. The Browns have a new coaching staff, a mess at QB and a massive gap in the defense after trading away Myles Garrett. They’re not going to figure it all out by Week 1 and face a tough team on the road and likely some nasty Florida heat and humidity in their first full-speed game.

The Lions have led the NFL in home scoring in back-to-back seasons and are coming off a year in which they averaged 32.5 points per game in Detroit. While they should be able to do a lot of the heavy lifting to push this game Over 48.5, don't sleep on the Saints offense who made some major upgrades this offseason. Kellen Moore has been the arcitect of some great offenses on his way to becoming head coach of New Orleans. Expect his strengths to be on full display with a talented group of playmakers at his disposal.

The Texans were active in the offseason, bolstering their dog poo O-line and adding a steady rushing threat in David Montgomery. QB C.J. Stroud got the vote of confidence at QB (for at least one more year) and should improve given the better talent around him. For Buffalo, Josh Allen gets a true No. 1 receiver in D.J. Moore, who could show out in his Buffalo debut, as his career numbers spike when he plays indoors (I’ll be sniffing around his Week 1 props as well).

The blitz-heavy Vikings will face a Packers offensive line with question marks beside starters Aaron Banks (knee) and Zach Bako-Bewele (knee), and Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love dipped to a pedestrian 41.6 completion percentage for 5.0 yards per target when pressured last season. Playing without key starters Micah Parsons (knee) and Josh Jacobs (Reserve-CEL) will aslo be a huge hit to the Packers. On the flip side, Minnesota quarterback Kyler Murray has a top-tier receiver corps at his disposal for the first time of his career, and his 67.1 career completion percentage and mobility will thrive in head coach Kevin O'Connell’s offense.

With the Giants in transition mode under new head coach John Harbaugh, I’m happy to take the Cowboys below the key number of 3. The Dallas offense has oodles of continuity after averaging 27.7 points per game last season, and the offseason commitment to bringing in talent on the defensive side of the ball will provide an upgrade to a stop unit that allowed the third-most yards and most points per game.  I also anticipate this game closing with Dallas as at least a -3 favorite ahead of Sunday Night Football.

Distractions in sports tend to be overrated, but the Kansas City Chiefs have A LOT going on headed into the new season. It's fair to question what version of Patrick Mahomes we'll get in Week 1 after tearing his ACL and LCL late last season. The fact that he's coming of a bad season (by his standards) and will be playing one of the league's top defenses adds to those concerns. Denver is coming off a season where they went 5-1 ATS as an underdog. Expect them to be ready to compete and keep this game within the number against a Chiefs team that could need time to find its footing.