We’re trying something a bit new this year, as I’ll be taking a season-long ride we’re calling “The Bankroll Challenge.”
Basically, I’ll start with 50 units to wager on DraftKings Sportsbook for this NFL season and try to build that bankroll as large as possible. In order to do that, I’ll save the majority of my bankroll to use week-to-week, but betting futures has been profitable for me in recent seasons, so I’ll want to sprinkle some of that in as well.
This article is going to be where my most confident plays go, so while a best bets article may highlight the top five bets to consider one week, this is the place I’ll be posting selective bets that I’m most confident in, along with a unit amount.
This article will also be a running blog, so look for more plays to be dropped in throughout the week with fresh updates.
You can find my NFL Futures bets for the Bankroll Challenge here.
DraftKings users can get in on the action by betting on DraftKings Sportsbook or by downloading the DK Sportsbook app.
WEEK 7
Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans
GB -3 (-117) — 2.34 to win 2
We got the line movement we wanted since writing this one up in best bets, getting past the hook. Here’s the breakdown of the play: the Packers got embarrassed, 38-10, last week in Tampa Bay, but that just sets up a shorter number on this game. The past 10 times Green Bay has failed to cover, the team has come back to cover the following week. Houston shouldn’t show much resistance, going just 1-5 ATS and ranking near the bottom of the NFL in passing and rushing defense. If injury news on the Packers’ side can get us a -3 here, that would be ideal.
Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets
BUF 1H -6.5 (-112) — 1.18 to win 1
More line movement in our favor since writing up best bets, and I’m taking advantage again. No Jamison Crowder takes away the Jets’ lone offensive weapon, with Sam Darnold back.
Like everyone else, the Bills should dominate the Jets. Rather than lay the full game number, I’ll look to the first half for a straight play — teasing the game or putting Buffalo in a moneyline parlay is an extremely safe piece. The Bills are coming off consecutive losses, and this is the ideal bounce-back spot. They led this matchup 21-3 at halftime when these teams met in Week 1 and the Jets still had a bit more hope for the season. As every Jets game has this season, look for this one to get out of control relatively fast.
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets
KC/BUF Moneyline parlay (-159) — 3.18 to win 2
This parlay was about -260 or higher to start the week, and I can’t pass it up at this point. We know all the reasons to fade the Jets, and while the weather is causing the spread to drop in Denver, I’m not concerned at all. Patrick Mahomes is 8-1 in games below freezing — 13-2 ATS in his last 15 — and has dominated Denver in his career. The Chiefs dominated on the ground last week, and now add Le’Veon Bell, so even snowy conditions should still leave KC as a huge favorite in this matchup.
Place your NFL Football bets here at the DraftKings Sportsbook NFL page or by downloading the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
FUTURE UNITS PENDING: 5.88
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SEASON TOTAL: 12-22 (-9.53 UNITS)
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jedlow) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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