The NFC West is already shaping up as one of the NFL’s most crowded races again, and the betting market has responded by nudging San Francisco ahead of Seattle at the top of the board.
The 49ers now sit in front of the defending champion Seahawks in division odds, helped by their Week 1 win over the Rams in Australia. Los Angeles opened 2026 as the favorite to win the NFC West and the Super Bowl, but that changed quickly after that loss.
At Fanatics Sportsbook, the gap between San Francisco and Seattle is razor thin. “For us on our book right now, we have the 49ers at +165 and Seahawks at +170, so they're really close right now,” Ty Gour, Sports Trader at Fanatics Sportsbook, told Sports Illustrated. “That being said, as far as money, we haven't seen the 49ers get a ton of action.
“We're still seeing a ton of Rams action, and we expect that to continue until they get the opportunity to become the favorite.”
Even with the Rams drawing plenty of interest, the market has shifted back toward them after the loss to San Francisco, which technically came at home. Gour said the betting split after Los Angeles is mostly between the 49ers and Seahawks.
“Seattle and San Fran are essentially splitting the rest of the action after the Rams,” Gour said. “But as far as the ratings themselves, that just comes from San Fran had the big divisional win.
Circumstance aside, they beat the Rams in what would be considered a road game. So, it's a divisional road game against the presumptive Super Bowl favorite.
That shoots them up and shoots their probability of winning the division way up, whereas Seattle, they just haven't had that tough test yet. We're not really sure how good New England is yet, and Arizona, it's a divisional win, but it's one they really should have.”
Caesars Sportsbook is seeing the 49ers climb in its own numbers as well, and Brock Purdy’s play has fed into that rise.
“The San Francisco 49ers have seen a notable rise in our power ratings over the past two weeks, as they have been dominant on both sides of the ball,” Joey Feazel, Head of Football at Caesars Sportsbook, told Sports Illustrated. “Brock Purdy has been sensational this year, as has the 49ers defense. Their performance is the primary reason they have surged to the top of our NFC West board.”
DraftKings has the race just as tight. Johnny Avello, Director of Race and Sports Operations for DraftKings Sportsbook, said the book currently projects both San Francisco and Seattle at 11.5 wins.
“We have them both projected at this point for 11.5 wins,” Avello told Sports Illustrated about the 49ers and Seahawks. “49ers are slightly ahead of the Seahawks to win the NFC West. But with all that said, the Seahawks still have a little bit higher rating than the 49ers, but still really close. All three NFC West teams - where they stand in football - they're all rated in the top six of our current ratings of all teams.”
Avello also said DraftKings has adjusted the market after taking more money on San Francisco recently.
Last season gave the oddsmakers plenty to work with. The Seahawks finished 14-3 and won the division, while the 49ers, Rams and Seahawks all won at least 12 games. With all three clubs again rated among the league’s best, the head-to-head matchups could decide everything when the tiebreakers come into play late in the season.
Avello also listed Buffalo, Baltimore and Kansas City as the other three teams in the top six of DraftKings’ ratings.
For now, the 49ers have the slight edge in the odds, and that early divisional win over Los Angeles is the reason why.
In Other News...
Aaron Donalds Overlooked Rookie Card Says Plenty About His Rams Legacy
Among the rookie cards tucked inside Topps 2014 and 2015 football sets, Aaron Donalds still stands out as one of the more interesting finds for Rams fans and collectors alike. The piece runs through a group that also includes Mike Evans, Davante Adams and Pat McAfee, and the appeal is part nostalgia, part football history, with several of those names still carrying Hall of Fame buzz as the market keeps sorting out what their careers are worth.
For Rams followers, Donalds card is a reminder of how quickly his legacy moved from promising to undeniable, even if the hobby has not always treated his rookie issue like the obvious centerpiece it has become. The broader takeaway is pretty simple: these cards remain accessible enough to be realistic additions, but they also capture a moment when some of the leagues biggest eventual stars were still just another name in a pack. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Give Dean Connors A Real Chance To Earn A Bigger Role
The Rams made a pair of practice-squad elevations ahead of their matchup with the Broncos, bringing up running back Dean Connors and linebacker Elias Neal as they continue to sort out depth and special teams help. Connors promotion came after Ronnie Rivers was placed on injured reserve, opening a spot for a player who has spent much of his time waiting for an opportunity to show he can handle more than just emergency duty.
Sean McVay confirmed the moves and pointed to both players as pieces who can help primarily on special teams, which is often where roster decisions start to matter in a hurry. For Connors, though, this is also a real chance to make the kind of impression that can lead to a larger role if the Rams need more help behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Defense Just Helped Create A New Giants Quarterback Problem
Jaxson Darts rookie season has come to an abrupt halt after suffering a left knee injury that will require surgery and likely send him to injured reserve. For a Giants team already searching for stability under center, the injury has turned a shaky quarterback situation into a more urgent one, and the front office has been actively exploring the market for help even though nothing has been finalized.
Jameis Winston is set to start the next game, with Jake Haener elevated from the practice squad to serve as the backup, but that setup feels more like a stopgap than a plan. For the Rams, it is the kind of ripple effect worth noting after a defense helped send another opponent back to the drawing board at quarterback, leaving the Giants to keep sorting through a problem they can no longer afford to ignore. [Read more 🡒]