Week 9 results aided T.J. Watt in uncontested Defensive Player of the Year race

T.J. Watt is normally the defensive player drawing all the attention, but in Week 9, the Pittsburgh Steelers star didn't need to lift a finger to increase his odds of winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.

As the Steelers were on their bye week, Watt got a much-needed rest where he could sit back and watch other defenders around the league battle it out in the trenches. Fortunately for Watt, the results of individual performances around the NFL in Week 9 actually increased his chances of running away with his second DPOY award.

Giants DT Dexter Lawrence, who was once considered Watt's greatest competition for the award, failed to record a sack or a tackle for a loss against the Commanders on Sunday. With another New York loss, Lawrence is suddenly plummeting in DPOY odds.

Watt's biggest competition at the moment are Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr. and Chiefs DL Chris Jones. Anderson didn't suit up for the Texans' Week 9 Thursday Night Football game against the Jets while Jones is on a four-game skid without a sack after Sunday Night Football.

Entering Week 10, Watt has -135 odds to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Every other player is an afterthought.

A dark horse candidate could rise against T.J. Watt in DPOY race

Watt's biggest competition for the DPOY award this year undoubtedly would have been Aidan Hutchinson. With the Lions performing like the best team in the NFL, Hutchinson was on pace for a remarkable season. Unfortunately, a devastating leg injury ended his 2024 campaign early.

Though Watt is a run-away favorite to win this award, a new candidate is emerging.

Trey Hendrickson has been one of the more underrated pass rushers in the NFL for the past several seasons, but he's quickly putting himself on the map. The Bengals star is coming off a four-sack performance against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9.

After earning 17.5 sacks and his third straight Pro Bowl honors in 2023, Hendrickson already has 11.0 sacks in 9 games this season. This puts him on the pace for roughly 20.5 sacks in 2024.

Obviously, Steelers fans know it takes more than sack totals to win the Defensive Player of the Year award (otherwise Watt would have three such honors to his name already). Hendrickson could have a remarkable year as a pass rusher and still fall short.

His shot of winning the award is largely tied to the success the Bengals can find the rest of the way. If Cincinnati has a strong push in the second half of the season, Hendrickson could emerge as one of the top contenders for the DPOY award.

Steelers fans don't need to worry. The Associated Press voters are finally recognizing how much attention T.J. Watt draws on a weekly basis and what he does for his football team. As long as Watt can stay healthy and Pittsburgh's defense doesn't completely fall apart, Watt will remain the frontrunner for the DPOY award in 2024.

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