4 Underdog NFC Teams That Could Win Their Division in the 2019 NFL Season

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The NFL is known for parity, as teams can often go from worst to first in a single season, something that is rarely seen in the NBA or MLB.

The 2018 Chicago Bears are a prime example of this. They were 5-11 in 2017, but after adding Khalil Mack and head coach Matt Nagy, the Bears won the NFC North last season with a 12-4 record.

With that in mind, here are four underdog NFC teams that could win their division in 2019.

4. Minnesota Vikings (+195)

The Kirk Cousins era in Minnesota got off to a rocky start last season, as the Vikings fell short of expectations, going 8-7-1. While the Vikings are largely bringing back the same team, there is reason for optimism. Minnesota's offensive line was arguably the team's biggest issue in 2018, but that was addressed this offseason. The Vikings drafted center Garrett Bradbury out of NC State and signed veteran guard Josh Kline to help protect Cousins. If Captain Kirk gets to work from a clean pocket in 2019, Minnesota has the talent on both sides of the ball to win the NFC North.

3. Dallas Cowboys (+140)

After winning the NFC East last season, it's tough to call the Dallas Cowboys a true dark horse. However, the Philadelphia Eagles (-105) are currently favored to win the division. While the Cowboys' offense isn't exactly explosive, the Dallas running game is elite with Ezekiel Elliott leading the way. The defense has made massive strides, led by linebackers Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith, and they've won the division two of the last three seasons. At +140, the Cowboys have a legitimate shot at winning the NFC East.

2. Seattle Seahawks (+290)

The Los Angeles Rams have won the NFC West each of the last two seasons, but there's reason to believe that the Seattle Seahawks could overtake them in 2019. The Rams' offense could take a hit because of Todd Gurley's nagging knee issues, and the LA defense might not be as dominant without Ndamukong Suh on the interior. Seattle selected wide receiver DK Metcalf in the 2019 NFL Draft and signed veterans at other key positions including DL Ezekiel Ansah and guard Mike Iupati. With Russell Wilson at the helm, Seattle could end up taking back the NFC West division title.

1. Atlanta Falcons (+380)

The Atlanta Falcons are quietly one of the most talented teams in football, but were ravaged by injuries last season. Defensive cornerstones Keanu Neal and Deion Jones missed large chunks of the 2018 season as did Atlanta's starting running back Devonta Freeman. With Neal, Jones and Freeman looking healthy, Atlanta turned its focus to the offensive line in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Falcons used two first-round picks on offensive linemen – Chris Lindstrom, from Boston College, at No. 14, and Kaleb McGary, out of Washington, at No. 31 – making their projected starters in front of franchise QB Matt Ryan all former first-round draft picks. With an improved offensive line and better injury luck, don't be surprised if the Falcons win the NFC South in 2019.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.