In today's Betting Life Newsletter, presented by Hims:

After months of speculation, we will finally get some answers on Thursday. The first round of the NFL Draft will take place, and many of the biggest question marks are surrounding the most important position in sports.

It’s not considered a particularly strong year for quarterbacks. Cam Ward is a mortal lock to go first overall—he’s up to -20000 across most of the industry—but there is a ton of uncertainty after that.

Different Kind of QB Slide

It seems like Shedeur Sanders is in for a slide, and it’s possible that he’s not even the second QB off the board. Guys like Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Shough have all gotten some hype in recent days, so it will be interesting to see where those four players shake out. We might have to wait for Day 2 for most of those players to be selected, but never underestimate the desperation that NFL teams feel when they need a passer.

That said, what happens at quarterback is far from the only question heading into the draft. Let’s dive into some of the most recent rumors and whether or not you should buy or sell them:

Ashton Jeanty Will Go In the Top 5

This one is becoming increasingly likely. The Jaguars own the fifth pick in the draft, and they could certainly consider taking Jeanty there. Their run game was subpar last season, despite investing significant draft capital at the position in Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. It might not make the most sense to invest another premium pick at running back, but there is a new regime in town. New head coach Liam Coen is said to covet Jeanty, and ESPN’s Peter Schrager has him going fifth to Jacksonville in his latest mock.

That said, the Jags are not the only option. Both Las Vegas and Chicago are also very in on Jeanty, and one of them could move up to select him. Thor Nystrom has the Bears trading up to No. 5 to select Jeanty in his most recent mock. Moving up one slot might not make a ton of sense for the Raiders on paper, but if they want to get their guy, it’s a move they may have to make.

One way or another, expect to hear Jeanty’s name called quickly.

Verdict: Buy

Browns and Giants Listening to Offers

On paper, the Browns and Giants are in prime position at picks No. 2 and 3. There are widely considered to be two elite prospects in this draft—Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter—and with Ward coming off the board first, the Browns and Giants are in a position to secure them.

However, both of these teams have multiple holes to fill, including at quarterback. It’s at least possible that these teams are entertaining offers to move down.

That said, I don’t buy it. I think it’s far more likely that these teams take the “best players available” with their first picks. Then, if they’re looking at targeting one of the quarterbacks that fall down the board, they could always trade back into the back end of the first round.

Verdict: Sell

Tight Ends on the Rise?

In a draft that is lacking high-end talent, tight end could be a position that benefits. There are plenty of teams that appear to be in the market for an upgrade at the position, with Dianna Russini reporting that the Rams could try to trade up for one. They apparently tried to do so last year with Brock Bowers, so they could be targeting someone like Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland on Thursday.

While I’m not buying any specific team to draft a tight end, it does feel more and more likely that both Warren and Loveland will be off the board early. Warren could realistically go as high as No. 7 to the Jets, while Loveland’s floor feels like the Colts at No. 14. Ultimately, I’m expecting both guys to be off the board in the top half of the first round.

Verdict: Buy

Of course, the NFL moves at lightning speed when it comes to the draft. These rumors could become outdated in a matter of hours, so it’s essential to stay informed about the latest updates.

Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Thor released his final mock draft on Wednesday, and Matthew Freedman’s final mock will be released on Thursday. In today’s newsletter, we’ll dive into some of Thor’s thoughts on the first round, and I’ll wrap up with some updated bets for the NBA postseason.

FREEDMAN’S UPDATED BIG BOARD

The mint that can change your sex life

Please meet Hims, our newest partner here at Fantasy Life.

Among the sexual health products that Hims offers access to is their mint—it even comes in a tin!—that can help with erectile dysfunction.

Hims is 100% online, they’re discreet, they’re modern. You fill out an online intake form and a licensed medical provider will determine if a prescription is right for you. If prescribed a tin of mints arrives in the mail.

Learn more (including timing, details, active ingredients, and more) here, and enjoy—well, everything—thanks to Hims.

LEARN MORE

_{Prescription products require an online consultation with a healthcare provider who will determine i}

_{prescription is appropriate. Restrictions apply. See website for full details and important safety}

_information.

What’s going on around the NFL and more with our merry band of sports nerds!

🏷 Who doesn’t love a good sale? Code EARLY25 gets you 25% off any FantasyLife+ premium subscription. Trust me, you’re not going to want to miss out.

📋 Our big board is bigger than yours. Thor breaks down the top 500 prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft.

🔥 You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Ian Hartitz tackles 28 of the biggest burning questions for the draft.

️⚔️ Matthew Freedman, Ian Hartitz, and Dwain McFarland: Knights of the (NFL Draft) roundtable.

🃏 Sometimes, you need to live dangerously. Trevor Sikkema joins Kendall Valenzuela and Adam Ronis to highlight the draft’s biggest wild cards.

✏️ Still craving more draft? Find all our coverage in our handy dandy cheat sheet.

🏈 Who ya’ got? Dwain and Thor square off in a battle of “film vs. analytics” at the tight end position.

🍎 Are you starting to believe? The team with the best record in baseball resides in Flushing, Queens.

🤔 Who drafted Eli Manning? Time for NFL Draft Trivia.

If you’re just catching up on some of the most recent mock draft updates, you’re probably pretty shocked to see Shedeur Sanders slide all the way to No. 15 in Thor’s most recent mock. He has the Giants trading up to grab him, with the Falcons moving out of the first round entirely.

That said, that almost feels like an optimistic projection at this point. His draft position over/under is down to 21.5 at most locations, so the Giants probably don’t need to trade up to 15 to secure his services. If the Steelers pass on him at No. 21 overall, it’s possible he falls out of the first round entirely.

Who else lands where? Dive into Thor’s final mock draft to find out!

THE REST OF THOR’S FINAL MOCK DRAFT

Detroit Pistons (+200) vs. New York Knicks

I was a bit conflicted about this series before the start. On paper, the Pistons have been the better team this season. After a rough first month, they were easily one of the best teams in basketball. From Jan. 1 on, they were seventh in the league in Net Rating, outscoring opponents by an average of 5.2 points per 100 possessions. The Knicks were 15th over the same timeframe, but they did play an extended stretch without Jalen Brunson. Ultimately, it was too close a series for me to call.

However, after the Pistons’ showing in the first two games, I’m ready to jump on the bandwagon. +200 is simply too long of a price tag after splitting the two games at Madison Square Garden.

In all honestly, the Knicks could very easily be down 0-2 at the moment. Detroit led consistently in Game 1, but a 21-0 stretch in the fourth quarter propelled the Knicks to a victory. That’s not a huge surprise. The Pistons are a young team, and Madison Square Garden remains one of the most intimidating environments in basketball. The fact that they had some nerves in that outing was to be expected.

The Pistons bounced back with a win in Game 2, and it featured largely the same formula. The Pistons led for most of the game, but the Knicks made a run late. This time, they were unable to fully erase the deficit.

Overall, the Pistons were +8 through three quarters in Game 1 and +8 through three quarters in Game 2. They have been the better team basically throughout, despite being on the road for both contests. With the series now shifting back to Detroit, the Pistons are in the driver’s seat. Game 3 is basically a pick’em, and if the Pistons can secure a win in that outing, this price tag will be long gone.

Los Angeles Lakers (-120) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

This is starting to look like a series that could go the distance. The Timberwolves dominated Game 1 thoroughly, while the Lakers returned the favor in Game 2. With the series now headed to Minnesota, it appears as though the Timberwolves did their job. That’s caused the price tag on Los Angeles to dip to -120 to win the series after being listed at -195 before Game 1.

That might make sense on the surface, but I’m not buying it personally. While the Timberwolves dominated in Game 1, the way they did it doesn’t feel particularly sustainable. Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown. Naz Reid was second on the team with 23 points, and he was 8-12 from the field.

Both players came back to reality in Game 2, and the Lakers took care of business pretty comfortably. Most importantly, they’ve done a really good job against Anthony Edwards. He’s averaged just 23.5 points per game on 40.9% shooting, and if he doesn’t play better moving forward, it’s hard to see them knocking off a team with Luka Doncic and LeBron James. I still expect the Lakers to advance to the next round, and now we’re getting them at a much better price tag.

UPDATED ODDS FOR THE REST OF THE NBA PLAYOFFS

Premium

Go FantasyLife+

Your league is unique. Your advice should be too. Get personalized tools, rankings, and projections tailored to your fantasy football league settings.

Learn More