Sports bettors are gearing up for another season in the NFL. To get you ready for all the action, a number of betting odds for player props have been released to add even more excitement to the upcoming games. One of the most popular props posted by Sportsbook is for Defensive Player of the Year.
If you believe that defense wins championships in the NFL, then the following list of players in the running for Defensive Player of the Year are in position to have a major impact on this season’s run to Super Bowl LI. Sportsbook has released its betting odds for this popular NFL player prop and the following is a look at some of the top-valued picks on the board.
JJ Watt +275
Entering his sixth season in the NFL with the Houston Texans, this perennial All-Pro and three-time defensive player of the year has developed into one of the most formidable defensive players in the league. He has been a virtual nightmare for NFL quarterbacks with double-digit sacks in four of his first five seasons including 20.5 in 2014 and 17.5 last season. Add-in an average of 79 tackles over his last four seasons along with a total of 15 forced fumbles and it is easy to see why he is once again the top favorite to win this prop. Adding even more value to his betting odds, he plays on a defense that was ranked third in the NFL in total yards allowed and third against the pass.
Von Miller +500
Denver’s premier outside linebacker is another strong candidate to win defensive player of the year granted he is actually on the field come opening day. Mired in an offseason contract dispute, the word out of his camp is that there is “no chance” that he plays in 2016 under the NFL franchise tag. This means that both sides are faced with a July 15 deadline to work out some kind of long-term deal. If Miller is on the field in 2016, then the value in his odds remain solid heading into his sixth NFL season. He was a big reason why Denver had a defense that was ranked first in the NFL against the pass and in total yards allowed. He has also posted double-digit sacks in four of his first five seasons with a total of 16 forced fumbles to his credit.
Khalil Mack +650
The new kid on the block with the up and coming Oakland Raiders made a huge splash in his second NFL season with 15 sacks, 77 tackles and two forced fumbles. Drafted out of Buffalo in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, he has more than lived up to expectations at the next level after posting some very modest numbers as a rookie. That is why the upside on this guy is so high in light of his current betting odds. He is one of the main reasons why the Raiders made some serious strides on defense especially against the run. Add in the fact that head coach Jack Del Rio used four of his first six draft picks on the defensive side of the ball and Mack could standout even more this year with the extra depth on the roster.
Aaron Donald +1000
The big defensive tackle for the recently relocated Los Angeles Rams could be an interesting play at these odds. While all the excitement in town will probably center on the offense with rookie quarterback Jared Goff at the helm, Donald is quietly becoming one of the more dominant forces in the league heading into his third NFL season. Last year he recorded 11 sacks after posting nine his rookie year and his total tackles increased to 69 from 48. He could be poised for even bigger numbers in 2016 as the centerpiece of the Rams’ front seven.
Luke Kuechly +1600
The Carolina middle linebacker is the only player other than Watt to earn defensive player of the year in the past four seasons. Back in 2013 when he won this award from the AP writer’s poll, Kuechly recorded 156 total tackles and four interceptions. Last season, his tackles dropped off to 118 after missing three games, but he still posted four interceptions including one for a score. He continued his high level of play into the postseason where he picked-off a pass for a touchdown against both Seattle and Arizona to help the Panthers secure a spot in Super Bowl 50 . Heading into just his fifth NFL season, Kuechly would be worth a small play to win again at very favorable odds.
