Geoff Ulrich is joined by Fantasy Life staff members to discuss best futures bets for the 2025 NFL Playoffs in five words or less. 

Welcome to the Futures. The Playoff Futures that is! 

At Fantasy Life we’re all about staying in the action until the last drop of football has been completed—OK, we’ll skip the Pro Bowl, but that’s it. And now that it’s playoff time, it’s also time to get serious about which teams we’re interested in backing for the long haul. 

That’s why we’ve assembled our own veritable group of Avengers to give us the lowdown on how they see this playoff run shaping out.  

Matt LaMarca, Matthew Freedman, Jonathan Fuller, Chris Allen, Mark Drumheller, and myself will all be giving you our darkest and deepest thoughts below, and providing you with some of our favorite bets and hot takes as the playoffs draw near. 

We’ve got tons of other analyses on the site already so this article is for you “just the picks” people, as all answers will be in Five words (or less). 

On top of getting the answers from our squad, you can also follow along with our betting team all playoffs long in the FREE NFL Bet Tracker. 

We’ll be dropping bets for every game and trying to deliver some good Closing Line Value (and wins) as we go. 

Now let’s get to the good stuff. 

Lamar Jackson likely won’t win NFL MVP, but he could win his first Super Bowl MVP this season. He’s +850 to do so on Caesars. Are you taking that bet?

Ulrich: Better than Ravens +600 imo. 

LaMarca: Pass. Too tough a road.

Fuller: Not at that value.

Drumheller: Not beating Josh and Pat.

Freedman: +850 equals 10.5% … so, no.

Allen: Heart says, yes. Wallet? No.

If not Lamar, who is a longshot in the Super Bowl MVP market you might consider betting before the playoffs start?

Ulrich: Jameson Williams +12500. Lions exposure. 

LaMarca: Stafford +6600. NFC wide open.

Fuller: Justin Jefferson +8000. Best player in the NFC.

Drumheller: Xavier Worthy +15000

Freedman: Eagles SB +700 → Barkley +2200

Allen: Kelce +10000. One last ride.

Is anyone stopping the Chiefs from another Super Bowl appearance this season? If so, who is your pick to win the AFC?

Ulrich: Herbert and Chargers. Why not?

LaMarca: Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes is inevitable.

Fuller: Josh Allen, Superman postseason run.

Drumheller: Big Red owns the AFC.  

Freedman: No … but if yes, Bills.

Allen: Chiefs. Thanos. Handshake emoji. Inevitable.

Same question but NFC version. Is anyone beating Dan Campbell and the Lions? And if so, who?

Ulrich: Super Bowl goes through Detroit

LaMarca: Like the value with LA (+1700).

Fuller: Eagles realistic. Vikings for value (+700).

Drumheller: Eagles. I saw Playoff Dan. 

Freedman: No … but if yes, Eagles

Allen: MIN, maybe? But Darnold…

OK, a brief interlude from the bets. Let’s say you’re starting a franchise. Which head coach/QB combo from these playoff teams would you want to roll with for the next 10 seasons? (Let’s take out Mahomes/Reid to make things more interesting as well). 

Ulrich: Nix/Payton. Like Denver’s upside. 

LaMarca: Josh Allen with literally anyone.

Fuller: Has to be Josh Allen.

Drumheller: Allen/McDermott. Bills Mafia parades >>>>

Freedman: #Hottaek … Stefanski with J.J. McCarthy.

Allen: Sigh … Allen. Daniels is interesting.

There is an Exact Result market where you have to pick the two Super Bowl Finalists and the winner. As of writing, the favorite is the Chiefs to beat the Lions (+950; DraftKings). Give us your favorite bet from this market. 

Ulrich: Lions over Bills (+1400). Points!

LaMarca: Chiefs over Eagles (+2000). 2023 rematch!

Fuller: Bills over Lions (+1200)

Drumheller: Eagles over Chiefs and refs (+2000)

Freedman: The Bills over Eagles (+3000). 

Allen: Eagles over Bills (+3000)

Rank these Super Bowl futures (favorite to least favorite): 

  • Rams +4500 
  • Chargers +2800 
  • Buccaneers +2500 
  • Packers +2000  
  • Commanders +4500

Ulrich: Rams, Packers, Chargers, Buccaneers, Commanders 

LaMarca: Rams, Packers, Buccaneers, Chargers, Commanders

Fuller: Rams, Packers, Chargers, Commanders, Buccaneers

Drumheller: Rams, Buccaneers, Packers, Chargers, Commanders

Freedman: Packers, Rams, Chargers, Commanders, Buccaneers

Allen: Packers, Chargers, Rams, Commanders, Buccaneers

What will be the biggest upset of the Wild Card Round?

Ulrich: Green Bay stuns Philly. 

LaMarca: Texans Over Chargers. C.J. Stroud redemption.

Fuller: Packers beat the Eagles.

Drumheller: Rams over Vikings. Sam down. 

Freedman: Commanders beat Buccaneers by TD.

Allen: Daniels to the Divisional Round.

Give us the name of a player who will break out in these playoffs (so we can smash the Over on his alternative lines every week). 

Ulrich: Khalil Shakir season in Buffalo

LaMarca: Rashod Bateman. Props show GOAT.

Fuller: Bucky Irving overs and print.

Drumheller: Xavier Worthy

Freedman: Jayden Daniels, rushing yardage propapalooza.

Allen: Doubs without Watson? Rocket emoji.

You’re in a big playoff fantasy league and can start your playoff run with one of these three QBs: Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, or Lamar Jackson. Start one, Bench one, Cut one. 

Ulrich: 

Start: Allen

Sit: Hurts

Cut: Lamar
 

LaMarca

Start: Allen

Sit: Lamar

Cut: Hurts

Fuller

Start: Allen

Sit: Lamar

Cut: Hurts

Drumheller

Start: Allen 

Sit: Hurts 

Cut: Lamar 

Freedman

Start: Allen

Sit: Hurts

Cut: Lamar

Allen

Start: Allen

Sit: Lamar

Cut: Hurts

Brief Interlude No. 2. Would you support a Super Bowl at Lambeau Field in February? 

Ulrich: Snow Games rock. Yes!

LaMarca: Absolutely not. Nothing to do.

Fuller: Recipe for disaster.

Drumheller: Better than Jacksonville. 

Freedman: Yes—drive down ticket prices.

Allen: Cold weather SB? No thanks.

Straight up, what is your favorite Playoff Futures bet, right now?

Ulrich: Rams +4500 best value imo. 

LaMarca: Mahomes MVP (+450). Boring but effective.

Fuller: Steelers lowest-scoring team (+250).

Drumheller: A.J. Brown MVP +5000

Freedman: Packers +2400. Better than appreciated. 

Allen: Jahmyr Gibbs MVP (+1700). RBs Matter.