Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is entering the 2026 NFL season with high expectations and a renewed sense of optimism under a new coaching staff and offensive system. After an injury-plagued 2025 season that saw the Ravens narrowly miss the playoffs, Jackson, now healthy, holds the third-best odds to win MVP entering Week 1, currently at +800.
This season marks a significant transition for the Ravens, with John Harbaugh departing after 18 seasons to coach the Giants. Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle are set to lead the team's coaching efforts. Doyle, in particular, is expected to implement a scheme that emphasizes pre-snap movement and play-action, elements that align with Jackson's dynamic skill set.
Jackson has a history of success when working with a new offensive coordinator. In 2019, under Greg Roman, he achieved career highs in passing yards, touchdown passes, and rushing yards, earning him an MVP award. Four years later, with Todd Monken, Jackson recorded 3,678 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, guiding the Ravens to a 13-4 record. Despite this success, the team's red zone conversion rate dropped significantly last season, a statistic that is expected to improve under the new offensive leadership.
Jackson himself has expressed enthusiasm for Doyle's new offensive approach. He described it in a recent interview as containing "everything you need in an offense play action, dropbacks, run game it's everything you want in an offensive system." He added, "I can't speak on it until we're on the field. But from what I've been seeing in practice and on film, I don't believe a defense is prepared for what's in store for them."
While individual accolades are important, the ultimate goal for Jackson and the Ravens remains a Super Bowl title. Entering Week 1, there is a strong projection that Jackson will surpass his rushing yards prop bet of 550.5. He achieved this mark for seven consecutive seasons prior to last year's injury-affected performance. With his health restored, the expectation is that Jackson will once again showcase his formidable rushing ability, helping the Ravens contend for AFC supremacy.