Woah, talk about a seismic shift! Texans defensive end Will Anderson has already seized the top spot as the betting favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, flipping the entire narrative just one week into the season. This guy is now sitting at +320 odds, a wild change from what everyone thought heading into Week 1.
Myles Garrett’s Rough Start Paves the Way
Remember all the hype around Rams defensive end Myles Garrett? He was the undisputed favorite to snag DPOY honors before the season even kicked off. Well, that dream crashed harder and faster than a bad punt return. Garrett did absolutely nothing in Week 1, then got hit with a knee injury that sidelines him through at least Week 5. Just like that, his DPOY odds plummeted to a whopping +2500. It’s a brutal break for him and a massive open door for the rest of the league.
Anderson Leads a Stacked Early DPOY Field
Even though Anderson and the Texans’ defense didn’t have their best outing in a 36-31 loss to the Bills on Sunday, the betting world clearly sees something special. He’s an elite pass rusher, and that’s usually the golden ticket for this award. But he’s not alone in making an early statement. Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is right behind him at +500 odds after racking up two sacks in a Week 1 win over the Saints. Then there’s Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt at +650, who dropped jaws with a tremendous pick-six in their Sunday win against the Falcons. And let’s not forget Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, coming in hot at +900 after posting 1.5 sacks in a Week 1 victory over the Dolphins.
This DPOY race is already looking like an absolute slugfest. With Garrett out and Anderson stepping up, it’s clear the early season performances are shaping up to be everything. You gotta keep an eye on these guys every single snap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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