Youmans laid the short -2 with Green Bay, saying the roster has been "built to win now" around Jordan Love, who only needs to show his "good version" to justify the price. He brushed off the Micah Parsons back issue as a non-factor in his handicap but forecasted Detroit to "take a step back" after losing OC Ben Johnson. Jared Goff’s three-interception meltdown in his last outing reinforces that fade. With Lambeau providing familiar September edges, Youmans expects the Packers to start the season with a clear win and cover.

Youmans took Seattle +1.5, calling Mike Macdonald a "defensive wizard" who inherits a roster built to pound the rock and play shutdown football. He doubts San Francisco has shaken the Super Bowl-loser hangover that produced last year’s 6-11 slide, pointing to a diminished defense, new injuries and fresh concerns about Christian McCaffrey’s health. Because the opener is anything but the "soft" spot 49ers backers cite, Youmans sees value on a home Seahawks side capable of winning outright.

Youmans recommended Cleveland +5.5, leaning on two angles: Zac Taylor’s 1-11 straight-up mark in Weeks 1-2 and the 23-7 ATS record for Week 1 divisional home dogs. Even after Cincinnati played starters more in August, he’s skeptical of a defense he labels the Bengals’ "biggest problem." He concedes 40-year-old Joe Flacco must trade scores with Joe Burrow but thinks the Browns’ motivation and roster depth make the line too high for an in-division opener.

Matt Youmans grabbed Giants +6, citing the long-term 23-7 ATS trend for Week 1 divisional home dogs and last season’s razor-thin Washington sweeps (21-18, 27-22). He believes New York’s upgraded roster and defensive front can corral Jayden Daniels, while 36-year-old Russell Wilson has "something left" behind an improved line and with better skill talent. Early-season divisional games, he said, are tailor-made for live underdogs, and the market is undervaluing how much the Giants closed the talent gap over the summer.

Matt Youmans backed the Ravens -1 on Sunday night, arguing their top-tier defense will swing the AFC opener. He noted Baltimore out-gained Buffalo 416-273 in January’s playoff loss but self-destructed with three turnovers. Nothing structural has changed: Youmans still grades John Harbaugh, new bell-cow Derrick Henry and the defensive roster as clear checkmarks over Buffalo. While the Bills own an 18-2 home record since 2023, the market making Baltimore a road favorite signals sharp confidence that mirrors his own power ratings, which list the Ravens No. 1 overall. He expects Buffalo’s home-field intangibles to be outweighed by Baltimore’s pass rush and secondary, recommending bettors lay the short spread.

Youmans bet Cam Skattebo under 120.5 (opened 138.5, now ‑155) and called it "the only prop with meat left outside Round 1." He lauded the Sun Devil’s 92 PFF elusive‑rating and 39 catches last season, skills that fit modern third‑down roles. With several RB‑needy teams holding picks in the late‑fourth to early‑fifth range, Youmans expects Skattebo to come off the board well before pick 121, making the current number too high even after the move.

Youmans grabbed Tyler Warren under 10.5 at an opener that has since steamed to ‑190. He said Chicago would prefer Ashton Jeanty at No. 10 but will pivot to the Penn State tight end if Jeanty is gone, citing GM Ryan Poles’ public emphasis on adding explosive pass‑catching size. Warren’s rare 6‑6, 250‑pound frame and 4.57 forty translate to mismatches in OC Shane Waldron’s scheme, making a top‑10 landing spot far more realistic than early markets suggested.

Youmans played Jaxson Dart under 25.5 draft position at ‑115 and called the Ole Miss quarterback his favorite passer in the class outside projected No. 1 Cam Ward. He cited strong league buzz—Giants, Saints, and Steelers all "like him"—and expects Dart to become the second QB selected once trade activity starts around the middle of Round 1. Because most mocks place Dart in the late teens, Youmans believes anything under pick 26 offers plus expected value.

Youmans fired on two related Steelers props: Pittsburgh’s first pick being a quarterback at +225 and the Steelers to draft Colorado star Shedeur Sanders (took +550, now 3‑1). He hammered the play because the franchise sits at pick 21 with no long‑term answer behind aging free‑agent stopgaps and has publicly stressed upgrading the position. With at least three QB‑needy teams drafting after them, Youmans expects the Steelers to strike before the music stops, making Sanders—whose dual‑threat profile mirrors Mike Tomlin’s recent comments about mobility—a logical target.

Youmans wagered on three correlated props around Texas burner Matthew Golden: under 16.5 draft slot at +130, first wide receiver drafted at +140, and Dallas’ first‑selection position being wide receiver (now ‑140). He expects Jerry Jones to grab Golden at No. 12 because the Cowboys covet a "flashy, speed receiver" to pair with CeeDee Lamb and Golden’s verified 4.34 forty gives him the inside track over Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. If Dallas pulls the trigger, all three tickets cash, making Golden one of Youmans’ favorite angles on the board.

Matt Youmans said the Raiders will likely shift to Georgia edge‑rusher Jalon Walker at No. 6 if Ashton Jeanty is snatched away at No. 5. Walker is the 7‑1 third choice in the sixth‑overall market, yet Youmans noted that Las Vegas desperately needs a pass‑rush boost and new GM Tom Telesco has historically leaned toward explosive defensive athletes in Round 1. Because books tightened most draft props this year, Youmans likes the relative value on Walker compared with the shorter +250 attached to Missouri tackle Armand Membou. He recommended grabbing the 7‑1 before any draft‑day steam hits the number.