Will Anderson Jr. is absolutely shredding, stacking up 28 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss through just six games this season, making him the current favorite for the 2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. This dude is leading a Houston defense that was straight-up nasty last year, and now he’s showing why he’s the top dog in the DPOY race.
Will Anderson Jr. Is Setting The League On Fire
Seriously, this guy is a beast. He took over as the DPOY favorite the second Myles Garrett went down with that knee injury, and he’s not letting up. His odds moved from +120 to +170 over the last week, but don’t let that fool you. He’s still the guy everyone is chasing, and with his kind of production, it’s easy to see why. The dude is playing out of his mind, anchoring a defense that was already the best in the league last year. He’s not just making plays, he’s taking over games.
Meet The DPOY Challengers, Including Our Latest Headache
While Anderson is tearing it up, a few other names are making serious noise. Fred Warner, the 49ers’ four-time Pro Bowl linebacker, is piling up tackles like it’s his job, with 58 total and 27 solo so far. Remember his insane 17 total tackle game against Arizona in Week 3? That’s the kind of performance that puts you in this conversation. Then there’s Turner, the Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick, who had a huge Week 2 against the Bears with two sacks and three solo tackles. His odds are climbing, going from +1200 to +1000 in just a week. Greg Rousseau for the Bills has also been a disruptive force, already logging 6 sacks and 3 forced fumbles this season, though he’s had a couple of quieter games lately.
But let’s talk about the guy who hit a little too close to home for us Seattle fans. Nik Bonitto, the Broncos’ linebacker, is charging up the board, too. He’s got 15 total tackles and 9 solo on the year, but his Week 6 performance against *our* Seahawks was definitely one of his best this season. Remember that overtime loss to Denver? Bonitto tallied four total tackles, two assists, and even assisted on a sack against our boys. Yeah, not gonna lie, seeing him play that well against us stings a bit, but it also shows he’s got serious game to be in this DPOY discussion. He’s making a name for himself, climbing the ranks right after making an impact against our squad.
This DPOY race is getting spicy, especially with the reigning champ Myles Garrett sidelined by injury after a record-breaking 23-sack season last year. He’s only behind legends like Lawrence Taylor and Aaron Donald with his two DPOY awards, but that knee injury has thrown the door wide open for these new contenders. With Anderson setting the pace and guys like Bonitto making big plays, even against our Hawks, the defensive landscape in the NFL is electric right now. Every snap matters, every tackle counts, and we’re just getting started. This is going to be a fun one to watch!
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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