GistReel
Every NFL season creates new heroes. Some are established superstars chasing another award. Others are breakout candidates finally getting the right role, system, or supporting cast. As the 2026 season approaches, the league is loaded with players who look ready to define the year.
The latest futures markets show how competitive the top tier has become. Josh Allen is widely viewed as the MVP favorite, with Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Drake Maye, Patrick Mahomes, and Matthew Stafford all firmly in the conversation. Looking at the NFL lines this early in the season when exploring DraftKings Sportsbook is not just about predicting winners. It is also a snapshot of expectations, momentum, health, roster strength, and how oddsmakers view each player’s path to a huge year.
Here are the players most likely to shine.
Josh Allen: The Standard Setter
Josh Allen enters the season as the player everyone is chasing. His combination of arm strength, rushing power, toughness, and late-game confidence makes him the kind of quarterback who can dominate both the stat sheet and the MVP debate.
Buffalo remains built around his ability to create, and that matters in award races. If the Bills finish near the top of the AFC, Allen will almost certainly be one of the central names in the MVP conversation.
Lamar Jackson: Still One of One
Few players change a game like Lamar Jackson. When healthy, he forces defenses into uncomfortable choices on every snap. Sit back, and he can pick apart space. Attack too aggressively, and he can turn a broken play into a 40-yard run.
Jackson’s MVP case is simple: if Baltimore wins big and he stays on the field, his impact is impossible to ignore. His ceiling remains as high as any player in football.
Joe Burrow: The Comeback Candidate
Joe Burrow may be the most intriguing quarterback in the race. When he is healthy, he is one of the league’s sharpest passers, with the accuracy, timing, and poise to carry Cincinnati into shootouts against anyone.
The Bengals have the offensive talent to explode if the pieces stay intact. A full, healthy season from Burrow could quickly turn him from preseason value pick into one of the favorites by midseason.
Justin Herbert: Ready for the Leap
Justin Herbert has long had the tools. The question has been whether the team around him could help turn elite flashes into a full MVP-level campaign.
This season feels like a major opportunity. Herbert’s arm talent is unquestioned, and if the Chargers protect him well and give him enough volume, he has the profile to put up the kind of numbers voters notice. A division title or deep playoff push would make his case even stronger.
Drake Maye: The Rising Star
Drake Maye’s place near the top of the market shows how quickly perceptions can change in the NFL. He has the size, athleticism, and passing upside to become one of the league’s next major quarterback stories.
For Maye, the key will be consistency. If New England’s offense takes another step and he cuts down mistakes while producing explosive plays, he could become one of the defining young stars of the season.
Jahmyr Gibbs: The Offensive Player of the Year Favorite
While quarterbacks dominate MVP talk, Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the headliners for Offensive Player of the Year. His speed, receiving ability, and open-field danger make him a nightmare matchup.
With a bigger workload expected in Detroit’s offense, Gibbs has a realistic path to huge all-purpose numbers. If he becomes the engine of one of the league’s most efficient attacks, he could be one of the most exciting players in football.
Bijan Robinson: Atlanta’s Game-Changer
Bijan Robinson is built for highlight reels and heavy usage. He can win as a runner, receiver, and space creator, which gives Atlanta flexibility and makes him difficult to defend.
The Falcons need their offense to take a step forward, and Robinson is the player most capable of making that happen. If Atlanta becomes more consistent, he could post the kind of scrimmage-yard total that puts him firmly in the awards conversation.
Ja’Marr Chase: The Receiver Who Can Tilt the Field
Ja’Marr Chase remains one of the NFL’s most dangerous wideouts. His chemistry with Burrow, ability after the catch, and knack for explosive plays give him a path to a massive season.
If Cincinnati rebounds, Chase could be the face of that surge. A healthy Bengals offense gives him every chance to challenge for the receiving crown.
Puka Nacua and Justin Jefferson: Elite Volume, Elite Talent
Puka Nacua has become one of the league’s most reliable high-volume receivers, combining strength, route detail, and toughness. If the Rams offense keeps rolling, he should be a weekly focal point.
Justin Jefferson, meanwhile, remains the gold standard for modern receiver play. Even with changing quarterback situations, his route running, body control, and big-play ability keep him in the top tier.
The 2026 NFL season has no shortage of star power. Allen and Jackson headline the MVP race, Burrow and Herbert offer major upside, Maye represents the next wave, and playmakers like Gibbs, Robinson, Chase, Nacua, and Jefferson could own Sundays.
The players who shine brightest will be the ones who combine talent with health, role, team success, and timing. That is what makes the season so compelling: the names are familiar, but the story is still waiting to be written.