Khalil Mack a Massive Favorite to Win NFL Defensive Player of the Year
By Chris Amberley in NFL Football
Updated: March 30, 2020 at 5:55 pm EDTPublished:
- Are Khalil Mack’s short odds worth a bet?
- Is JJ Watt a threat to win a fourth DPOY award?
- Does anyone else’s odds scream value?
Khalil Mack is worth every cent of his record $141 Million contract. The Bears stud pass rusher has been a dominant force this season and is the main reason why Chicago is grading out as a top three pass rushing unit over at Pro Football Focus.
Mack’s performance has been so elite that oddsmakers have made him an overwhelming favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year.
Odds to Win NFL Defensive Player of the Year
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Khalil Mack | -160 |
| JJ Watt | +800 |
| Aaron Donald | +900 |
| Myles Garrett | +1000 |
| Gino Atkins | +1600 |
| Yannick Ngakoue | +2000 |
| Jaylon Smith | +2000 |
| Fletcher Cox | +2000 |
| Danielle Hunter | +2500 |
| Von Miller | +3000 |
Should you Bet on Mack?
Laying -160 is a tough pill to swallow, but Mack’s play has not only vaulted him to the top of the Defensive Player of Year race, but into the MVP discussion as well.
Through five games, Mack has recorded five sacks, forced four fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown. Per Pro Football Focus, he’s registered 24 Quarterback pressures and has an incredibly favorable schedule the rest of the season. Seven of the Bears final 11 games are against teams whose Offensive Lines rank in the bottom half of the league.
Khalil Mack's dominant start to 2018 has him in the running for another Defensive Player of the Year award.https://t.co/13jorrnqam pic.twitter.com/jiaj22rKnS
— PFF (@PFF) October 3, 2018
Despite his torrid start, Mack’s price is a little steep and offers no value at the moment. He suffered a minor ankle injury in Week 6 and if it causes him to slow down even a bit, we’ll be able to bet him at much more favorable odds in the coming weeks.
JJ Watt Looks Like His Old Self
Three-time Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt headlines a talented group of players trailing Mack on the odds board. After back-to-back injury plagued season, Watt is once again playing at a high level and is tied for the league lead in sacks and forced fumbles.
Khalil Mack vs JJ Watt Statistical Comparison
| 5 | Sacks | 7 |
| 4 | Forced Fumbles | 4 |
| 1 | Interceptions | 0 |
| 19 | Tackles | 25 |
Watt is more likely to win Comeback Player of the Year honors, but +800 is still a nice value if you think he can stay healthy all season.
The league leader in sacks is at it again.#BUFvsHOU pic.twitter.com/7mpGwPZ3cD
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 14, 2018
Swing for the Fences
If you’re scraping the bottom of the value bin, you might want to consider Vikings Defensive End Danielle Hunter.
#Vikings Danielle Hunter (@DHunt94_TX) with his second sack from this week.
Get off at the snap / OT opens the gate / speed to power…and it's over. Dude is a freak of nature. #Skol @LSUfootball pic.twitter.com/OgOmElQx0F
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) October 17, 2018
He has at least one sack in every game this season and more tackles than both Mack and Watt. If he can start generating a few turnovers he could see his name skyrocket up the board.
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
