Once the Super Bowl ends in February, there are nearly seven months before another regular-season NFL game gets played, which leaves plenty of time for bettors to get some interesting futures wagers in.
It’s always fun to talk to bookmakers at various sportsbooks around the United States and ask, “What stands out so far this summer?” You never know what the answer is going to be.
This offseason not much was thought of the Minnesota Vikings – a team with a win total of 6.5 and widely picked to finish last in the NFC North. But one bettor was a believer in Sam Darnold, placing a $250 wager on Darnold to win the 2024-25 NFL MVP at 300-1 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. The bettor also wagered another $250 on Darnold to win the AP NFL regular season Offensive Player of the Year Award at 400-1 odds.
Once Vikings first-round pick J.J. McCarthy went down with a knee injury in the preseason, the path was cleared for Darnold to start for the entire season – assuming he produced at a high enough level – and he has seized the opportunity. Darnold is now among the top players with the shortest odds (+2000) at sportsbooks and has led the Vikings to a 5-1 start and impressive victories over the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers.
Darnold has thrown for 12 touchdown passes, five interceptions and 1,370 passing yards. He’s also demonstrated mobility in the pocket and rushed for 100 yards on 24 carries.
The bettor – a 35-year-old lawyer – from New Jersey told Odds Shark over the summer that he doesn’t bet often but explained his rationale for the Darnold wagers:
“When I look at the situation that he is in, this is the year where you can definitively finally assess whether he is a draft bust or just unlucky. And for me, it’s kind of a ‘put-up or shut-up’ bet. I have been saying for years that he got a raw deal and would flourish if he ever found himself on a talented team with a good coach. I figured it was time to put my money where my mouth is.”
With Darnold near the top of the odds board, the bettor isn’t interested in taking a cash-out offer yet, but told Odds Shark, “I’m letting it ride because everything I’ve seen from Sam and the VIkings’ offenses against high-level opponents has made me more confident in its sustainability.”
The bettor declined to go into more specifics and didn’t want to do another interview, but this will be an interesting wager to follow – and we’ll keep readers apprised of any developments.
Would you cash out or keep the bet riding?
