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The NFC West houses both the defending Super Bowl champions in the Seattle Seahawks and the prohibitive Super Bowl favorite in the Los Angeles Rams, not to mention a San Francisco 49ers squad that added a true No. 1 receiver in the offseason and already went 12-5 last season.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals are essentially ticketed for cellar-dweller status before the season even begins, but Mike LaFleur’s squad certainly has its fair share of offensive talent, including Trey McBride and first-round pick Jerimayah Love.
Considering there’s a strong chance three of the NFC’s seven playoff spots are once again claimed by NFC West squads, this sets up as one of the most intriguing divisions to watch in 2026.
2026 NFC West Odds
As alluded to previously, there is a sizable gulf between the expected fortunes of the NFC West’s top three teams and the likely last-place Cardinals. The Rams, Seahawks and 49ers all have Division Winner odds under +310 as of mid-August, while Arizona is a textbook longshot at +10000.
The hierarchy on the betting market’s leaderboard appears to parallel each team’s on-field reality perfectly. There’s been no shortage of Super Bowl hype surrounding Los Angeles this
offseason, with very good reason. It became clear early in the spring the Rams were going Super Bowl or bust in 2026 after falling to Seattle in last year’s NFC title game, trading multiple picks to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie and then inking the star corner to a $124 million extension before also adding McDuffie’s former KC teammate Jaylen Watson. Then came the most marquee move of all, the trade with the Browns that added Myles Garrett to an already formidable defensive line.
The Seahawks have solid continuity and the championship pedigree on their side, and even the departure of Kenneth Walker III in free agency could very well be nullified by what already appears to be an outstanding first-round pick in Jadarian Price. The 49ers didn’t stand pat, either, nabbing Mike Evans to serve as a true No. 1 receiver and then ultimately ending up with a highly capable wideout that used to fill that role in San Fran in Deebo Samuel, who returned in late July on a one-year deal.
Given the quality of personnel on the division’s top three squads, it’s no surprise the Cardinals are viewed as a distant fourth. However, this isn’t just any potential last-place team, as Arizona will go to battle this season with plenty of impressive talent such as Love, McBride, Marvin Harrison, Michael Wilson and a very deep running back room expected to also include James Conner, Tyler Allgeier and Trey Benson.
ULtimately, while the NFC West shapes up as a slugfest – and I don’t put it past the Cardinals to pull off a couple of intradivision upsets along the way – it’s the Rams, who are 36-22 straight up in division games in the Sean McVay era, in a close call to be atop the mountain at the end of the regular season.
Best Bet: Los Angeles Rams
2026 NFC West MVP Contenders, Odds
- Matthew Stafford (QB, Rams)
- Puka Nacua (WR, Rams)
- Sam Darnold (QB, Seahawks)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Seahawks)
- Brock Purdy (QB, 49ers)
- Christian McCaffrey (RB, 49ers)
- Mike Evans (WR, 49ers)
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Cardinals)
- Trey McBride (TE, Cardinals)
Sorting out potential MVP candidates from this division is a fascinating exercise, considering there are upper-echelon players at each skill position residing in the NFC West. Stafford is naturally the reigning MVP, while both Darnold and Purdy have the talent and weapons around them to produce numbers commensurate with the honor.
Then, Smith-Njigba and Nacua are at the very top of an elite NFC wide receiver class, each already having posted a pair of 100-plus-catch seasons in their young careers and operating as the clear No. 1 option in their respective offenses. Harrison’s potential is unquestioned irrespective of how the first two seasons of his career have gone, and while Evans isn’t on the same level as Nacua or JSN by any stretch, but he’s still a 1,000-yard receiver when healthy, and Christian McCaffrey is the best running back he’s ever shared the field with.
Speaking of the 49ers do-it-all back, McCaffrey is always in the MVP conversation if healthy and played a full 17-game season for the first time in his career in 2025. A true 1K/1K threat as a runner and receiver in the mold of a franchise icon and newly minted Hall of Famer Roger Craig,
McCaffrey is still somehow just 30 years old and looks like he has more than enough juice to seriously challenge for the award. Finally, McBride is arguably the best player at his position and just entering his prime and coming off a record-setting 126-1,239-11 receiving line a year ago.
Given the undeniable tie-in between team success and MVP consideration, I’m in the camp of Smith-Njigba, who has less competition for targets than Nacua, having the best chance of the division’s top-tier talent.
Best Bet: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Which 2026 NFC West Team Will Reach the Playoffs?
Final Standings Prediction
- Los Angeles Rams (13-4)
- Seattle Seahawks (12-5)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-6)
- Arizona Cardinals (6-11)
The final division standings I envision mirror the Division Winner odds hierarchy. The Rams’ collection of talent may be unmatched not just in the division, but the entire NFL. The Seahawks should be nipping at Los Angeles’ heels all season, and while San Fran is likely one step below the two juggernauts overall, the Niners lay claim to having the top running back in the division and likely the most versatile skill-position weapon among the three contenders as well.
The schedule will naturally be a challenging one for all three clubs, and needless to say, the division games will be a beast and very likely help maintain some parity between the trio. The Cardinals will bring up the rear, but as mentioned earlier, their upside and firepower isn’t to be underestimated. With fresh new blood on the coaching staff and a running game that will be able to keep some top offenses off the field, Arizona could well double up last year’s three-win tally.
The same high confidence that exists in all of the Rams, Seahawks and Niners making the playoffs also puts us off the bet, however, as the juice on each is hefty.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
