NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: September 5, 2026, 10:18 PM ET

Rookie Watch

The 2026 NFL rookie class is generating serious buzz, with Rookie of the Year front-runners emerging on both sides of the ball. Our prop bets and projections highlight which first-year players are most likely to exceed expectations. Meanwhile, Kyler Murray could finally end Minnesota's decades-long search for a franchise quarterback, a role that has eluded the team since Fran Tarkenton. In New York, Odell Beckham Jr.'s return has fans and teammates convinced the 33-year-old wide receiver still has plenty left in the tank.

Fantasy & Strategy

Post-draft management is critical, and Mike Clay's Playbook offers keys to becoming a title-winning manager, regardless of league format. For Washington's new defensive coordinator, the path to the NFL was unconventional—Daronte Jones once lived in a 1988 Honda Prelude and kept a pet python named Goldie Gambino before climbing the coaching ranks.

Team News

The Rams are bringing their full roster to Melbourne, Australia, for their season opener against the 49ers, per coach Sean McVay. Packers running back Josh Jacobs will have his court appearance moved up to Sept. 10 on misdemeanor charges. The league also mourned the passing of Alphonso Smith, the two-time All-America defensive back who played four NFL seasons; he was. Giants running back Cam Skattebo admitted he considered retirement after suffering an open fracture of his right ankle during his rookie year.

Business & Off-Field

The NFL betting boom is showing signs of stalling, with sportsbook handle climbing to roughly $30 billion but growth flattening as prediction markets gain traction. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is overhauling its selection process, cutting the number of selectors and eliminating the separate Seniors category. Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez will plead guilty in connection with the alleged attack of a truck driver in Indianapolis last year. Finally, our X-factor picks for all 32 teams include Marvin Harrison Jr., Jared Verse and Travis Hunter—players whose success could define their franchises this season.