The Lions scored a huge win in Dallas in Week 6 but lost their best defensive player in the process. Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia that will likely sideline him for the rest of the season, and the league’s leader in sacks is now essentially out of the Defensive Player of the Year odds conversation.
Hutchinson was the favorite to win DPOY at most online sportsbooks heading into Week 6, so his injury opens the race up to several contenders. Below are the latest odds for the next Defensive Play of the Year. We also discuss how the odds have shifted below.
Perennial candidate T.J. Watt held a short lead over Hutchinson after Pittsburgh’s 3-0 start but moved behind the Detroit Lions’ edge rusher when the Steelers lost consecutive games. At the moment, Watt is the favorite, with odds of around +300 at online sportsbooks.
Watt won the award in 2021 and finished second to Myles Garrett last season with 19 first-place votes to Garrett’s 23. Coming off another stellar game with two forced fumbles at Las Vegas, Watt has tallied 4.5 sacks and 25 combined tackles through six games this season.
Some oddsmakers have taken Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II off the board with the stud coverage man in concussion protocol. Surtain missed almost every snap of Denver’s loss to the Chargers in Week 6 and is unlikely to play on a short week this Thursday night in New Orleans.
Chris Jones is very much in the mix to earn his first DPOY award. The Chiefs’ defensive tackle is at +1100 or +1000, but those odds could shorten once the adjustment comes in from Hutchinson’s injury. Jones finished third in DPOY voting in 2022 and is coming off consecutive first-team All-Pro selections.
Other candidates include 2022 DPOY Nick Bosa, with odds between +1100 and +1600, and his teammate, linebacker Fred Warner, who is getting +2000 odds at most books but is at +1400 at bet365. Warner already has forced four fumbles and tallied two interceptions, including a pick six.
