The Chargers’ fast start to the season is gone before it ever really arrived, and oddsmakers have noticed. After Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, Los Angeles has slid hard in the eyes of BetMGM, with its playoff odds drifting from -160 before the season to +260 now. The drop is even steeper in the AFC title market, where the Chargers went from fourth-best at +800 to ninth at +2500.
That stumble has opened the door for Las Vegas, which is now +240 to reach the playoffs after opening at +550. The Raiders’ 2-0 start also gave Kirk Cousins more support as the starter, while Fernando Mendoza took a hit in the Offensive Rookie of the Year market. Mendoza fell from +550 in the preseason to +1300, and he now trails five other rookies.
Caleb Williams’ hamstring injury has flipped the mood around Chicago just as quickly. After last week’s huge 59-point performance had the Bears leading the futures conversation, Sunday’s loss to the Vikings and the injury news pulled the rug out from under them.
Even with Tom Pelissero reporting that Williams may be able to play next week, Chicago’s NFC North odds have dropped to last at +500, down from second-best a week ago. The Bears’ playoff line has also swung from -150 to +155.
Williams’ absence has reached the award markets too. His top-three MVP odds have been removed entirely, and Bears coach Ben Johnson has taken a step back in Coach of the Year betting, sliding from +800 to +1800 and behind seven other names.
At the top of the MVP board, the numbers remain tight, with Josh Allen at +250, Patrick Mahomes at +800, Joe Burrow at +850, Lamar Jackson at +850 and Brock Purdy at +900.
Mahomes, though, is pulling away in another race. After the Chiefs beat the Colts in prime time on Sunday night, the Comeback Player of the Year picture has sharpened around the Kansas City quarterback.
He opened as the favorite at +185 and is now a heavy -300 favorite. The Chiefs are 2-0, and the only player who looks like he could still chase him is Aaron Donald, listed at +800 as he returns from retirement tonight against the Giants.
The Ravens’ blown double-digit lead and home loss to the Saints reshaped two division races at once. In the AFC North, the Bengals are now the favorites at +105, nudging past Baltimore, which sits at +115 after being the odds-on favorite through last week.
In the NFC South, the Saints have moved into the top spot at +125. The defending champion Panthers are next at +300 despite being 1-1, and even the 0-2 Buccaneers, after losing to the Browns, are still ahead of Carolina at +260.
Bijan Robinson’s early-season production hasn’t been enough to keep him near the front of the Offensive Player of the Year race. With the Falcons dealing with injuries to their top two quarterbacks, Robinson has been fighting stacked boxes on nearly every snap. He still has 155 rushing yards and 99 receiving yards through two games with Cooper Rush at quarterback, but his odds have tumbled from second-best last week at +800 to eighth at +1800.
The market now has Jahmyr Gibbs at +500, followed by Kenneth Walker III at +900, Jaxon Smith Njigba at +1000, Ja’Marr Chase at +1300 and Derrick Henry at +1400.
In Other News...
Derwin James Just Said What Chargers Fans Are Already Feeling
The Chargers are off to a 0-2 start after back-to-back losses to the Cardinals and Raiders, and the mood inside the building is already turning restless. Derwin James didnt soften it after the Week 2 defeat, calling the teams play trash and making it clear the standard in Los Angeles is nowhere near where it needs to be.
Buffalo is next on the schedule in Week 3, which only sharpens the urgency for a team that cannot afford to keep drifting through September. For a roster built to contend, the early results have already created a familiar kind of pressure, and James blunt assessment sounded a lot like what plenty of Chargers fans were thinking anyway. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Face A Derwin James Problem They Can't Ignore
Derwin James is pushing through a fractured pinky finger and plans to play the rest of the season in a cast, which leaves the Chargers in a familiar but uncomfortable spot: keeping one of their most important defensive pieces on the field while wondering how much the injury might alter his game. For a defense that leans heavily on James versatility and presence, even a hand injury can ripple into how aggressive he can be and how much the staff can trust him week to week.
Elijah Moldens hamstring issue adds another layer to the picture, even though the Chargers do have options at safety if they need them. Tony Jefferson and R.J. Mickens provide depth, and the team could also look at veteran free agents if the position gets thin. For now, though, the bigger question is how long Los Angeles can keep treating this as manageable before it starts becoming a real personnel problem. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Offense Just Took Another Hit At The Worst Time
The Chargers are trying to steady themselves after back-to-back losses to open the 2026 season, and the injury situation on offense is making that task much harder. Jim Harbaugh said tight ends Charlie Kolar and David Njoku will both go on injured reserve, which leaves the roster suddenly thin at a position that matters plenty in protection, in the run game and in the passing plan.
Los Angeles now has only one healthy tight end left, and the hit does not stop there. Starting left guard Kayode Awosika is expected to miss time, while defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson also appears headed to the sidelines for a stretch, adding to the pressure on a team already trying to avoid an early spiral. [Read more 🡒]