Early Value in Opening 2026 NFL OPOY & DPOY Odds

• Opening odds are available for 2026 NFL OPOY and NFL DPOY winners
• Saquon Barkley is favored to repeat as the NFL Offensive Player of the Year
• Read below for opening 2026 NFL OPOY & DPOY odds, plus early value

It’s never too early to place an NFL futures bet, especially if you can identify early longshot value. Sportsbooks have dropped odds for Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards following the ceremony last night in New Orleans.

Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) and Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos) claimed the 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) and Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) awards, respectively. However, while Barkley is expected to repeat in 2026, DPOY is wide open, per the books.

Here’s a look at the opening NFL OPOY & DPOY odds, plus best early value.

2026 NFL OPOY Odds

 Saquon Barkley opens as the +600 favorite to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2025-26, which is 14.3% implied probability.

All odds as of Feb. 7 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Bet on early NFL futures with the top NFL betting promos.

Can Barkley Repeat?

It’s hard to argue with Saquon being the early favorite in the 2026 NFL OPOY odds, especially if he goes off in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday. Futures money could pour in on Barkley for next season if he shows out. Don’t be surprised if his opening +600 price shortens slightly over the next week.

Barkley had a monster 2,005 rushing yards season, recording 13 TDs in 16 games. The former New York Giant fell 101 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. He closed as a massive -5000 favorite (98.04% implied probability), and his implied win probability for 2026 is under 15%.

There isn’t a good argument to bet against Barkley winning again in 2025-26. You just have to consider his monster workload this season and upcoming short offseason increases the chance of an injury. Not to mention, only eight players have won the OPOY award multiple times, and the last repeat winner was Marshall Faulk in 1999-2001.

In my opening NFL MVP odds story, I mentioned I liked the value on Joe Burrow at +750 odds. Considering 28 of 51 OPOY winners also won MVP, Burrow at odds for OPOY isn’t a bad idea. However, I’m looking at Burrow’s main target Ja’Marr Chase, at +1200, for my favorite play.

Chase dominated opposing secondaries in 2024-25, leading the NFL in receptions (127), yards (1,708), and TDs (17). He could be asked to do even more next year with his massive contract extension looming. If Chase gets his bag, Cincy is likely unable to afford re-signing Tee Higgins.

With a receiver having won three of the past six OPOYs, I love grabbing Chase at +1200 for what could be a 2022-Justin Jefferson-type season.

• Best Early Value: Ja’Marr Chase (+1200)

2026 NFL DOPY Odds

T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, and Aidan Hutchinson are +750 co-favorites to win NFL DPOY in 2025-26. This means each player shares 11.8% implied win probability.

Three-Horse Race for NFL DPOY in 2026

Denver Broncos’ stud cornerback Patrick Surtain took home the NFL DPOY in 2024-25. But the stud corner opened as a +2800 longshot to repeat as the winner next season. This might be surprising considering he closed at -550 after surging late in the season. However, there is a method to this madness.

Surtain became the first cornerback to win since Stephon Gilmore (2019) and only the 10th DB to claim the award since 1971. This award typically goes to edge rushers, so it makes sense the three co-favorites for 2025-26 all play that high-valued defensive position.

I will definitely be targeting a pass rusher in my early NFL DPOY prediction, as there were five straight previous winners who all played this position. T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett have already won this award before, and Aidan Hutchinson was building a serious case for the trophy prior to his devastating injury.

Garrett and Hutchinson are my top picks for next season, with motivation playing a role for both. Garrett, who racked up 23 solo tackles and four forced fumbles in 2024, has requested a trade out of Cleveland. He’ll be motivated to show his new team what he’s made of. He’ll also want to prove he’s worthy of his massive looming historic contract.

Hutchinson, meanwhile, had some of the best stats in the league before breaking his leg in Week 6 vs Dallas. The Michigan product was leading the league with 7.5 sacks, 45 pressures (1st), 38.3% pass-rush win rate (1st), and a 94.9 PFF grade (2nd overall) at the time of his injury.

Detroit’s defense regressed from 7th in points allowed (20.1 PPG) to 17th (24.3 PPG) post-Hutchinson injury. The Lions’ loss to Washington in the NFC Divisional round can partly be attributed to a lack of pass rush. Hutchinson is a great bet at +750 as he aims to pick up where he left off and prove he shouldn’t be left out of these discussions.

• Best Early Value: Aidan Hutchinson (+750)

As the 2026 NFL season approaches, fans and analysts alike are already looking ahead to potential award winners, including the Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) and Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). While it may seem early to start placing bets on these awards, getting in on the action now could provide some valuable opportunities for bettors.

One of the key factors to consider when looking at early OPOY and DPOY odds is the performance of players in previous seasons. Players who have consistently put up impressive numbers and have been in the running for these awards in the past are likely to be strong contenders once again. For example, players like Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Donald, and Derrick Henry have all been perennial candidates for these awards and should be considered as early favorites.

Another important factor to consider is the overall strength of a player’s team. Players on successful teams that are likely to make deep playoff runs are often given more consideration for these awards. This is because their performances are seen as more impactful and valuable to their team’s success. So, it may be worth looking at players on teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, or Tennessee Titans as potential candidates for OPOY and DPOY.

In addition to individual player performance and team success, it’s also important to consider any offseason moves or changes that could impact a player’s chances of winning these awards. For example, if a team adds a key defensive player that could take away opportunities from a potential DPOY candidate, it could hurt their chances of winning the award. On the other hand, if a team adds offensive weapons that could help boost a player’s stats, it could increase their chances of winning OPOY.

Overall, while it may be early to start placing bets on the 2026 NFL OPOY and DPOY awards, there are definitely some valuable opportunities for bettors to consider. By looking at factors like past performance, team strength, and offseason moves, bettors can make informed decisions on where to place their bets and potentially cash in on some early value. So, keep an eye on the odds and start doing your research now to get ahead of the game for the upcoming NFL season.