Rounding out our final 2026 NFL Division preview, we’ve got a juggernaut ahead of us in the AFC West. Featuring Super Bowl contenders throughout, this season’s AFC West title will be a hard-fought journey for all four teams as they scrap it out to finish atop the division.
As Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs look to right the ship and get back to their dominance in the NFL, the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos have leveled up and are hungry to stamp their names in the history books in 2026, all while a young and dynamic Las Vegas Raiders team is stirring in Sin City, looking to shake up the division with their high-octane play.
With so much drama and intrigue surrounding this division, why not crank up the intensity level by placing a bet on the 2026 AFC West division odds? Below, we’ve highlighted our expert picks and predictions for each team, as well as some juicy prop bets to tail throughout the year.
Don’t wait, hit paydirt this NFL season and throw down your next NFL bet with our AFC West division odds, predictions, and betting preview.
Thanks for reading our NFL Divisional Preview Series! Be sure to check out our previews for all eight divisions as they become available!
AFC North – AFC South – AFC East – AFC West – NFC North – NFC South – NFC East – NFC West
Kansas City Chiefs to Win the Super Bowl
Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl Odds: +1600
To Win Conference Odds: +750
Division Odds: +165
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-200) No (+155)
Season Win Total: Over 10.5 (+115) Under 10.5 (-145)
2025 Record: 6-11
Key Additions: RB Kenneth Walker III, QB Justin Fields
Key Subtractions: T Jawaan Taylor
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Needing to make a statement early this season after a turbulent 2025 campaign, the Chiefs biggest game of the season will come in Week 1 as they cap off the opening week of action with a Monday Night Football tilt against the Denver Broncos. With no shortage of spectulation swirling around the Chiefs organization as to what the play of quarterback Patrick Mahomes will look like coming off a torn ACL, as well as the slowing play of tight end Travis Kelce, this matchup will be a great litmus test to see what kind of Chiefs squad we can expect this year as all of the questions will be answered under the bright lights of primetime.
Prop to Watch: While many in the NFL world are skeptical of the output of Patrick Mahomes this season, I’m banking on the two-time NFL MVP to look as good as ever, leading the NFL in passing touchdowns in 2026. With a high-powered offence in front of him, expect Mahomes to sling the rock with confidence, utilizing his iconic arm to generate big plays downfield, racking up passing touchdowns in a hurry throughout the season. Having led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice in his career, bank on him to put forth another All-Pro season as he gets the Chiefs electric offence back on track.
Potential Breakout Player: Expecting big things from him in his rookie season, look for cornerback Masoor Delane to break out for the Chiefs as a defensive cornerstone. After being selected with the sixth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Delane slots in perfectly for the Chiefs, providing some much-needed depth at a position of need. A gifted DB in coverage, Delane plays with stellar physicality and uses his near-telepathic mind to read plays before they happen, jumping routes and defending big plays with ease. With a shot at becoming a key player on one of the most-talked-about teams in football, this could be a star-making season for Delane.
Betting Projection: Love them or hate them, there’s no denying the ability of the Chiefs. Having been the team to beat in the NFL for the better part of a decade, this season will be no different as the Chiefs begin to look like their former selves and emerge as a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the AFC. Hammer the Over on the Chiefs win total as they finish near the top of the conference, making a run for their fourth Lombardi Trophy in eight years.
Patrick Mahomes to Lead the NFL in Passing Touchdowns
Los Angeles Chargers
Super Bowl Odds: +1600
To Win Conference Odds: +800
Division Odds: +180
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-165) No (+130)
Season Win Total: Over 9.5 (-140) Under 9.5 (+110)
2025 Record: 11-6
Key Additions: C Tyler Biadasz, T Trevor Penning, RB Keaton Mitchell
Key Subtractions: C Bradley Bozeman, T Mekhi Becton, LB Odafe Oweh
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Out for revenge in a primetime showdown, the most important game on the schedule for the Chargers will take place on Sunday Night Football in Week 12 as they take on the New England Patriots. Not only will this be a duel pitting two of the top teams in the AFC against each other, but it will also be a rematch of the AFC Wild Card round from the 2025 playoffs, a matchup that saw the Patriots dismantle the Chargers 16-3. Looking to get their lick back against the Pats, expect this matchup to be fiery from start to finish as the Bolts hope to make a statement against the team that ended their season last year.
Prop to Watch: Coming off a sophomore slump, expect a massive bounce-back in production from Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey as he records 1,000+ receiving yards in 2026. Having accomplished this feat in his rookie year, McConkey simply wasn’t on the same page as quarterback Justin Herbert last season, only hauling in 66 of 106 total targets. With this set to be a blip rather than a trend in his career, expect McConkey to resume his place as the go-to receiver for the Chargers, picking up chunk plays across the field and quickly amassing his second 1,000-yard season in his third pro campaign.
Potential Breakout Player: While the talk of the town in the Chargers backfield has been about second-year back Omarion Hampton, be sure to keep a close eye on second-string running back Keaton Mitchell in his first year with the Bolts. After spending the first three years of his career buried on the Baltimore Ravens depth chart, Mitchell has made a name for himself in limited snaps. Possessing breakneck speed, Mitchell can go from 0-100 in the blink of an eye, as evidenced by his career average of 6.3 yards per carry. With Hampton struggling to stay on the field, Mitchell could see himself slotted into the top spot throughout the season, fitting seamlessly into the Chargers game plan, and generating career highs across the board in LA.
Betting Projection: There’s no question that the AFC West, as well as the AFC as a whole, will be a bloodbath in 2026, but expect the Chargers to claw their way through the battlefield, punching their ticket back to the NFL Playoffs in 2026. Entering the year with the ninth-hardest strength of schedule, iron will sharpen iron for the Chargers in 2026 as they take their licks and give them in return, building character and finding their identity as a football team in the process. It may come down to the wire, but back the Chargers to make the Playoffs this season, as they hope to finally live up to their potential in 2026.
Ladd McConkey 1,000+ Receiving Yards
Denver Broncos
Super Bowl Odds: +2000
To Win Conference Odds: +1000
Division Odds: +220
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (-145) No (+115)
Season Win Total: Over 9.5 (-130) Under 9.5 (+100)
2025 Record: 14-3
Key Additions: WR Jaylen Waddle
Key Subtractions: RB Jaleel McLaughlin, DT Jordan Miller
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Without a doubt, one of the most thrilling games of the 2025 season was the Broncos vs. the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round, which saw the Broncos escape with a controversial 33-30 OT victory. Wanting to dispel all doubt about their win last season, the Broncos will look to give their hometown fans the best Holiday gift possible: a win on Christmas Day. With the eyes of the NFL world centered around this marquee matchup, these two rivals will get the chance to settle the score in a snow day showdown on Christmas, setting the stage for an unforgettable clash.
Prop to Watch: Set to make an immediate impact with his new squad, bank on wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to quickly emerge as a go-to weapon for Bo Nix in the Broncos offence, finishing the season with Over 924.5 yards. After making a name for himself in a high-octane Miami Dolphins offence over the past five seasons, Waddle is primed for a massive year with the Broncos. Filling a position of need as a reliable downfield threat, he’s sure to put up big numbers in the offence that led the NFL in passing attempts last season. Having finished with Over 924.5 yards three times in his NFL career, and narrowly missing the mark last year by just 15 yards amidst disastrous quarterback play in Miami, look for Waddle to have a sensational season in 2026.
Potential Breakout Player: Set to see an increase in snaps in 2026 as he will fill the void in the Broncos linebacker core left by Jonathan Cooper as he deals with an off-field issue, expect a big year from third-year player Dondrea Tillman. Quietly stacking up back-to-back stellar seasons to begin his NFL career, Tillman finished 2025 with 41 total tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions. A versatile defender, Tillman can make his presence felt in any situation, making him one of the most dangerous players on a stacked Broncos defence. Set for a career-best season, look for Tillman to assert himself as a top player in the Broncos lineup, taking the starting role and never looking back as the former Undrafted Free Agent sets himself up for a breakout year.
Betting Projection: After a terrific 2025 campaign that saw them shockingly take the top spot in the AFC, look for a fall from grace for the Broncos in 2026 as they narrowly miss out on the postseason. While there’s no question that the Broncos still have terrific upside, it’s safe to say that teams won’t be caught off guard by them this year. With a limited offence and question marks hovering over key players like quarterback Bo Nix, who’s coming off an ankle injury in the 2025 NFL Playoffs, I just don’t trust the Broncos as much as other AFC squads. At plus money, fade the Broncos and profit off their misfortune by taking the Under on their win total and on them missing the postseason.
Jaylen Waddle Over 924.5 Receiving Yards
Las Vegas Raiders
Super Bowl Odds: +15000
To Win Conference Odds: +7500
Division Odds: +2000
Odds to Make Playoffs: Yes (+575) No (-950)
Season Win Total: Over 5.5 (-150) Under 5.5 (+120)
2025 Record: 3-14
Key Additions: C Tyler Linderbaum, LB Quay Walker, CB Taron Johnson
Key Subtractions: DE Tyree Wilson, G Tyler Meredith
Most Important Game on the Schedule: Looking to showcase their new-look squad as a formidable force within the AFC West, the biggest game for the Raiders will come in Week 2 as they travel to Sunny Los Angeles to take on the Chargers. In their first taste of divisional play, the Raiders are hungry to prove the tide has turned, with sunnier days on the horizon and their first winning season since 2021 hopefully coming soon. A win over the Chargers would be a major early momentum boost, as well as a critical divisional victory.
Prop to Watch: He nearly became a Raven this offseason, but after a failed physical, the blockbuster deal for Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby failed, and he remains in the black & silver. Set to continue his spectacular play, look for Crosby to take out any offseason frustrations on opposing quarterbacks, racking up well Over 10.5 sacks in 2026. Coming off a 10-sack season with only 15 games played, if Crosby can play out the entire year, he’ll have no trouble tallying Over 10.5. In his last two seasons with 16 or more games played, he’s destroyed the mark set for him, with 12.5 and 14.5 sack seasons when he’s remained on the field. Set for another Pro Bowl level campaign, bank on Crosby to live in the backfield this season, recording Over 10.5 sacks for a -110 payday.
Potential Breakout Player: After putting up one of the most impressive college football seasons of All-Time, it’s a no-brainer to expect big things from the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as Fernando Mendoza looks to become the franchise quarterback for the Raiders. While he’s set to play behind and learn from veteran Kirk Cousins to begin the season, this will actually be a benefit to him, as he can soak up the knowledge bestowed upon him, gearing himself up to be ready and able when his number is called. With the Raiders investing in the offensive line this offseason, look for Mendoza to have plenty of opportunity to develop this year as the Heisman Trophy winner makes immediate headway in the NFL.
Betting Projection: Moving in the right direction, the Raiders front office made fantastic moves this offseason, building them up for success in the future. However, don’t expect that to generate success in 2026, as they’re still set to finish with a losing record and miss the postseason for the fifth year in a row. Set to be a building campaign, look for the Raiders to be a competitive and fun team to watch, even if it doesn’t translate into wins. Playing in a tough division and a strong strength of schedule, at plus money, sprinkle a wager on them to finish under 5.5 wins.
