NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds 2026
The 2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds have changed considerably since the start of the season. Aidan Hutchinson and Will Anderson Jr. currently…
Below are the latest DPOY odds, the leading contenders, the biggest market movers and the sportsbooks offering NFL awards betting. Odds move throughout the season, so compare the current price at more than one sportsbook before placing a wager.
2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds
The table below reflects the DPOY market entering Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season. Prices are a snapshot from September 22, 2026 and can change quickly following games, injuries and major defensive performances.
| Player | Team | Position | DPOY Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan Hutchinson | Detroit Lions | DE | +550 |
| Will Anderson Jr. | Houston Texans | DE | +550 |
| T.J. Watt | Pittsburgh Steelers | EDGE | +650 |
| Maxx Crosby | Las Vegas Raiders | DE | +1800 |
| Nik Bonitto | Denver Broncos | EDGE | +2500 |
| Fred Warner | San Francisco 49ers | LB | +2500 |
Market update: Myles Garrett opened the season as the favorite after winning the 2025 award unanimously, but his price has moved significantly following a knee injury. That has opened the market for Hutchinson, Anderson and Watt.
Who Are the 2026 DPOY Favorites?
The early-season market is concentrated around three pass rushers. Hutchinson and Anderson currently share the shortest available price, while Watt remains close enough that one dominant game could move him back toward the top.
Aidan Hutchinson (+550)
Hutchinson has moved from +750 before the season into the group at the top of the market. His early production has reinforced the case that he can turn consistent pressure into the type of sack total that attracts DPOY votes.
Detroit’s defensive results will also matter. Individual production drives the award, but a strong Lions defense would give Hutchinson more national exposure and more high-leverage pass-rush opportunities.
Will Anderson Jr. (+550)
Anderson entered 2026 as one of the strongest challengers to Garrett after finishing second in the 2025 DPOY voting. Houston’s defense gives him a strong platform for another season of pressure and sack production.
His position near the top of the board is therefore not just an early-season reaction. He entered the year among the main contenders and remains there after the opening weeks.
T.J. Watt (+650)
Watt has already won this award once and remains one of the easiest candidates for voters to recognise when his sack production reaches an elite level.
His odds shortened substantially from the preseason market after a productive start. If the sack total continues to climb, the gap between Watt and the two current co-favorites could disappear quickly.
Maxx Crosby (+1800)
Crosby sits in the next tier of the market. He has produced at an elite level for several seasons but has yet to win DPOY.
The larger price reflects the gap between Crosby and the early leaders, but his workload and pass-rush production keep him relevant if the Raiders defense improves and he stays within range of the league sack lead.
Nik Bonitto (+2500)
Bonitto remains a longer-priced contender after establishing himself as one of Denver’s main pass-rush threats. At this point in the season, his path to the award would likely require both an elite sack total and continued strong defensive results from the Broncos.
What Happened to Myles Garrett’s DPOY Odds?
Garrett entered 2026 as the betting favorite after one of the most dominant defensive seasons in NFL history. He recorded a league-record 23 sacks in 2025 and received all 50 first-place votes for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Browns subsequently traded Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams during the 2026 offseason. He initially remained at the top of the DPOY market following the move.
A knee injury early in the 2026 season changed that position dramatically. Garrett has moved from the preseason favorite into long-shot territory while he misses time, leaving the top of the market open to Anderson, Hutchinson and Watt.
DPOY Market Movers
NFL awards odds can move much more quickly than standard futures such as the Super Bowl market because an individual player’s performance can materially change the race in a single game.
| Player | Preseason Odds | Current Market | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan Hutchinson | +750 | +550 | Shortened |
| Will Anderson Jr. | +500 | +550 | Slightly longer |
| T.J. Watt | +2000 | +650 | Shortened sharply |
| Maxx Crosby | +1400 | +1800 | Lengthened |
| Nik Bonitto | +1400 | +2500 | Lengthened |
| Myles Garrett | +450 | Long-shot range | Lengthened sharply after injury |
The biggest early movement belongs to Watt and Garrett for opposite reasons. Watt’s price has shortened considerably, while Garrett’s injury has removed the preseason favorite from the immediate top tier.
What Usually Wins NFL Defensive Player of the Year?
There is no single statistic that determines the AP Defensive Player of the Year, but recent voting shows several recurring factors.
- Sack production: Edge rushers have dominated the award in recent years, and sacks remain one of the most visible defensive statistics.
- Consistent disruption: Pressures, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and quarterback hits can strengthen the case behind the headline sack total.
- Availability: Missing several games can materially damage an awards campaign because opportunities to produce and remain visible to voters disappear.
- Team performance: A winning team is not required, as Garrett showed in 2025, but playing meaningful games can increase visibility.
- Standout moments: Dominant prime-time performances and major late-season games can shift both the betting market and the awards conversation.
Best Sportsbooks for NFL DPOY Odds
DPOY prices can differ between sportsbooks, particularly early in the season when books are reacting differently to injuries and weekly performances. Comparing the same player at several legal sportsbooks can produce a better price without changing the wager itself.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings carries NFL season awards markets including Defensive Player of the Year, with prices changing throughout the season.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel also lists DPOY and other NFL award futures, making it useful for checking whether another book is offering a better number on the same player.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM offers NFL awards futures alongside its broader football markets, including DPOY prices during the regular season.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook maintains NFL award futures throughout the season, including Defensive Player of the Year.
bet365 Sportsbook
bet365 carries a broad NFL futures menu that can include DPOY alongside other individual season awards.
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers provides another DPOY price to compare when shopping NFL futures markets.
Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet also offers NFL futures and individual award markets in eligible states.
Why Shopping DPOY Odds Matters
Award futures can show larger price differences between sportsbooks than many game markets. One sportsbook might list a contender at +550 while another still has +650 or +700.
That difference changes the potential return without requiring a different prediction. For a $100 winning wager, +550 returns $550 in profit while +650 returns $650.
Prices can move quickly after sacks, forced turnovers, injuries and prime-time performances, so the best available price may change from week to week.
2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Myles Garrett won the 2025 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award after setting an NFL single-season record with 23 sacks.
He received all 50 first-place votes and finished with the maximum 500 voting points. Will Anderson Jr. finished second with 177 points.
Garrett also led the NFL with 33 tackles for loss, making the result considerably less competitive than most DPOY races.
Recent NFL Defensive Player of the Year Winners
| Season | Winner | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Myles Garrett | Cleveland Browns | DE |
| 2024 | Patrick Surtain II | Denver Broncos | CB |
| 2023 | Myles Garrett | Cleveland Browns | DE |
| 2022 | Nick Bosa | San Francisco 49ers | DE |
| 2021 | T.J. Watt | Pittsburgh Steelers | LB |
| 2020 | Aaron Donald | Los Angeles Rams | DT |
| 2019 | Stephon Gilmore | New England Patriots | CB |
| 2018 | Aaron Donald | Los Angeles Rams | DT |
| 2017 | Aaron Donald | Los Angeles Rams | DT |
| 2016 | Khalil Mack | Oakland Raiders | LB/DE |
The recent winner list illustrates why edge defenders usually dominate the betting market but should not be treated as the only viable position. Patrick Surtain II and Stephon Gilmore both won as cornerbacks.
Players With the Most DPOY Awards
| Player | Awards | Winning Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Taylor | 3 | 1981, 1982, 1986 |
| J.J. Watt | 3 | 2012, 2014, 2015 |
| Aaron Donald | 3 | 2017, 2018, 2020 |
| Myles Garrett | 2 | 2023, 2025 |
| Joe Greene | 2 | 1972, 1974 |
| Mike Singletary | 2 | 1985, 1988 |
| Bruce Smith | 2 | 1990, 1996 |
| Reggie White | 2 | 1987, 1998 |
| Ray Lewis | 2 | 2000, 2003 |
How NFL DPOY Voting Works
The Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year is decided by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL.
Voters rank five players. First place is worth 10 points, followed by five points for second, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth. The player with the most points wins.
Voting takes place after the regular season and before the playoffs determine the Super Bowl participants, so postseason performance does not decide the award.
How to Bet on NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Open a legal sportsbook available in your state.
- Go to the NFL futures or season awards section.
- Find the Defensive Player of the Year or DPOY market.
- Compare the player’s price with at least one other sportsbook.
- Select the player and enter the wager amount.
- Review the bet slip and potential return before confirming the wager.
NFL DPOY Betting FAQ
Who is the favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2026?
Aidan Hutchinson and Will Anderson Jr. were co-favorites at +550 entering Week 3 of the 2026 season. DPOY odds can change after every game, so check the current sportsbook market before betting.
What does DPOY mean?
DPOY stands for Defensive Player of the Year. The AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year recognizes the league’s top defensive player for the regular season.
Who won the 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award?
Myles Garrett won the 2025 award unanimously after recording an NFL-record 23 sacks for Cleveland.
Why did Myles Garrett’s 2026 DPOY odds get longer?
Garrett opened the season as the favorite but suffered a knee injury early in the year. Missing games reduces both his statistical opportunities and his ability to remain competitive with healthy candidates producing every week.
Can a defensive back win DPOY?
Yes. Patrick Surtain II won the award in 2024 and Stephon Gilmore won in 2019. Edge rushers appear more frequently among recent winners, but the award is not restricted to pass rushers.
When is the NFL Defensive Player of the Year announced?
The winner is announced during NFL Honors after the regular season and before the Super Bowl.
Should I compare DPOY odds between sportsbooks?
Yes. Futures prices can differ substantially between sportsbooks. A higher positive number increases the potential return on the same winning selection.
Responsible Betting
NFL awards futures can remain unsettled for several months. Do not increase a wager because a player has moved in the market or try to recover previous losses through additional futures bets.
Bet only where sports betting is legal and you meet the minimum age requirement. Set a budget before wagering and use available responsible gambling tools if betting stops being recreational.
