NFL Defensive Player of the Year best bets & value picks

The Defensive Player of the Year is one of the most prestigious awards in the NFL. Defense sometimes gets overlooked considering the offensively focused coverage of the NFL and the Defensive Player of the Year is one of the only places where defenders can get the recognition they deserve. Over the past 10 years, only one secondary defender has won the award and only one linebacker has won it. Eight of the past 10 DPOY awards have gone to a pass rusher and currently, it is sacks that voters look for when it comes to choosing the DPOY. With that in mind, here are our best picks for this upcoming season.

Aaron Donald To Win Defensive Player Of The Year

This is a very obvious bet but it’s obvious for a reason. Aaron Donald is one the best defensive players of all time and he has won three of the last five Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) awards. While he is 31 years old, the NFL still hasn’t figured out a way to slow down Donald. He is one of the best athletes in the NFL and it would be quite a surprise to see him falter in this season. The Rams have a plethora of talented pass rushers, so that will open up a lot of space for Donald to operate as teams won’t be able to double team him. He may be a favorite but Donald’s dominance is as safe as anything in the NFL and at +700 with the top betting sites, he’s worth a bet.

Micah Parsons To Win Defensive Player Of The Year

Micah Parsons was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and he is primed to improve on last season. The Cowboys pass rusher is a versatile athlete who was one of the best players in the NFL last season. He finished with 13 sacks in his rookie year and if he can add five more sacks this year, he should win this award. It’s only his second season, but Parsons has quickly risen to the pantheon of NFL defenders and analysts love his play. He is another favorite, like Donald, but Parsons has the talent to win multiple defensive player of the year awards during his career and at +900, Parsons presents great value.

Derwin James To Win Defensive Player Of The Year

Derwin James is an absolute freak of nature who always finds a way to impact the game. While he has battled injuries in recent seasons, James still has the talent to dominate and he should be the leader of a resurgent Chargers defense. He is a safety and DPOY usually goes to a pass rusher, but Derwin can still rack up the stats and make a run at the award. He forces fumbles and intercepts the ball at a high rate and if he can keep that up, James will be a steal at +5000. The Chargers should have an improved defense this year and if that happens, a lot of their success will be attributed to James and that will also build up his DPOY narrative.

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