The current Defensive Player of the Year has relocated to a new team, but a knee injury will significantly hurt his chances of winning back-to-back honors.
Myles Garrett was the unanimous AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, earning all 50 first-place votes after setting the single-season sack mark with 23. That marked his second DPOY award, leaving him one behind Lawrence Taylor, J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald — each of whom won the honor three times. Watt and Donald each notched three wins over a four-year span, and Garrett began this season as a favorite to match that feat. However, a knee problem that will keep him out at least four weeks has pushed his odds to +5000.
Below are the FanDuel Sportsbook odds for the 2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year as of Sept. 29.
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Will Anderson Jr. (Houston Texans) — Favorite
Anderson has been the standout on a dominant Houston defense, which finished last season as the league’s best. Through three games in 2026 he has 18 total tackles (10 solo), four sacks and six tackles for loss. After Garrett’s injury Anderson moved into the top betting spot.
Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions)
Hutchinson has consistently pressured opposing quarterbacks, totaling four sacks, seven QB hits and three tackles for loss through three weeks. Still, the Lions’ defense has allowed 85 points so far this season.
Greg Rousseau (Buffalo Bills)
Rousseau has compiled 12 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks and forced three fumbles this season. In Buffalo’s Week 3, 24-16 victory over the Chargers, he had five solo tackles and two sacks.
T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Watt started the year strong with two sacks, four tackles, three tackles for loss and two QB hits in the opener against Atlanta, then added 1.5 sacks, another TFL and two more QB hits in Week 2. That surge shortened his odds from +1100 to +550, but a quieter Week 3 — in which he recorded one assisted tackle — pushed his odds back to +1100.
Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders)
Crosby’s offseason was eventful — including a brief belief he would be with Baltimore — but he has begun the season well. In Week 1 vs. Miami he posted 1.5 sacks, three QB hits and a tackle for loss. After two weeks, the Raiders ranked second in the NFL in pressure rate (44.1%), and Crosby played a big role in the upset of the Chargers. In Week 3 against New Orleans he recorded two tackles (one solo, one assist).
Fan Take: Garrett’s injury reshuffles the early DPOY landscape and opens the door for young pass-rushers to seize the spotlight, making the race more unpredictable and exciting for fans. If a rising star like Anderson or Rousseau converts this opportunity into sustained production, it could accelerate a generational shift in defensive stardom and influence how teams prioritize edge rushers in the coming years.
Source: www.foxsports.com
