The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, is sidelined with a knee injury, a tough break that completely reshaped the 2026 DPOY race. Garrett, who was favored to snag his third career DPOY award, a monumental feat putting him alongside legends like Lawrence Taylor, J.J. Watt, and Aaron Donald, has seen his hopes dim for now. Remember, Garrett won the 2025 AP NFL DPOY unanimously, pulling in all 50 first-place votes after an absolutely wild 23-sack season. That was his second DPOY award, and he was on track to match Watt and Donald, who both won three in a four-year span. But football, man, it is a brutal game.
Anderson Jr. Takes Center Stage as the New Favorite
While Garrett recovers, a new favorite has emerged, and he is playing lights out: Will Anderson Jr. This dude is making a serious case for himself, already racking up 27 total tackles (16 solo), a staggering 7.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss through just five games in 2026. Anderson is the undeniable star of a Houston defense that was the best in the league last year, and he is proving why. Since Garrett’s injury, Anderson has been the favorite in the DPOY odds, with his numbers tightening dramatically from +300 to a dominant +120 over the last week. That is a massive shift, showing just how much the oddsmakers, and frankly, everyone watching, believe in his game right now. The guy is absolutely on fire.
Other Contenders See Ups and Downs in a Wild Race
But this DPOY race is far from a one-man show, even with Anderson’s insane start. Fred Warner is out there making plays for the 49ers, piling up 50 total tackles and 21 solo so far this season. His Week 3 performance against Arizona? Seventeen total tackles and seven solo. That is pure dominance, and it is why he is a four-time Pro Bowler. Then there is T.J. Watt, a 2021 DPOY winner himself, who started the year like a man possessed. He opened with two sacks, four tackles, three tackles for loss, and two QB hits in the Steelers’ win over the Falcons. Week 2? Another 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss, and two more QB hits. His odds jumped from +1100 to +550 with that kind of start. But football giveth and football taketh away. After a quiet Week 3 where he only assisted on one tackle, his odds slid back to +1100. He bounced back in Week 4 with four solo tackles, a sack, and a stuff, but then had to leave Week 5 early for medical attention for an eye injury. You just cannot catch a break sometimes.
Dallas Turner, the 17th pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is also showing flashes. He has 14 total tackles and 10 solo on the season. In Week 2, in the Vikings’ win over the Bears, he exploded for three solo tackles (five total) and two sacks. Greg Rousseau for the Bills has also been making noise, with 19 total tackles (14 solo), eight tackles for loss, six sacks, and three forced fumbles. Even though the Bills took a tough 29-26 loss to New England in Week 4, Rousseau had two solo tackles and assisted on two others. He had a quieter Week 5 with one assisted sack during their thrilling overtime win against the Rams. And finally, Aidan Hutchinson has four sacks, eight solo tackles, and seven assisted tackles, plus three tackles for loss for the 3-2 Lions. This race is absolutely loaded with talent.
As we head deeper into the season, every snap, every tackle, and every sack is going to matter. This DPOY award feels wide open, and with Garrett on the mend, it is up to these other beasts to prove who wants it more. The next few weeks are going to be a must-watch to see who can maintain this pace.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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