In an era of endless entertainment options, sports teams must battle harder against competing forces to attract fan attention. After the conclusion of the regular season, we look at YouGov SportsIndex’s Value score to identify the NFL teams most worth watching (in the opinion of fans anyway). The Value score is based on the following questions: which teams are worth the time and energy it takes to follow them, and which ones aren’t? The scores in this piece are a net score of the responses.

We use the length of the recently concluded regular season as our observation period. At the top of the pile sit the Kansas City Chiefs. With a Value score of 22.6 among all NFL fans, they are the strongest example of a team that NFL fans think are worth following. That appeal is especially pronounced among younger fans, with the score rising to 27.3 among 18–34-year-olds. Star power (thanks to Taylor Swift) and successive Super Bowl appearances in the previous two seasons have likely combined to make the Chiefs feel like a safe bet for fans deciding where to spend their attention.

The Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles form the next tier. Both teams score above 19 among NFL fans overall, and they have fairly broad-based appeal rather than reliance on a single age group.

Green Bay presents a more polarized picture. While the Packers’ overall Value score of 19.1 puts them firmly among the league’s most worthwhile teams to follow, there is a sharp generational divide. Among 18–34-year-olds, the score drops to just 9.1, while fans aged 50 and over rate the team far more favorably. Legacy, tradition, and long-term loyalty clearly still matter—but they are not always enough to win over younger audiences.

Rounding out the top five are the San Francisco 49ers, whose strongest Value score comes from fans aged 35–49.

Looking at Value scores among each team’s own fans adds another layer to the picture. Here, conviction is strongest among Philadelphia Eagles supporters, who give their team a Value score of 88.9, suggesting an overwhelming belief that following the Eagles is time well spent. Fans of the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs follow closely behind.

The Chargers and 49ers also score strongly among their own fanbases, highlighting that even beyond league-wide perceptions, these teams deliver a sense of return on investment to those most closely invested in them.

Which teams are have grown in Value perception?

But it is also worth looking at the teams that are gaining ground in this metric year on year. Comparing 2025 and 2024 regular season scores highlights which teams are gaining momentum.

The New England Patriots have risen most strongly, with their Value score doubling from 6.8 to 13.6 year on year. The Patriots’ run of 14 wins to just three losses this season will have been a key driver of this shift. The Denver Broncos have also experienced a similar rise, climbing from a Value score of 8.4 in 2024 to 14.6 in 2025.

Next on the list is Jacksonville Jaguars moving from a negative score to 4.1 on the back of a season that has seen them win 13 matches. Each of the top three teams have had exceptional seasons on the field, showing that this kind of shift is often driven by a perception of renewed competitiveness.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indiana Colts round of the top five.

Subscribe to your sector newsletter