FanDuel Futures Bets: T.J. Watt with Good Odds to Win DPOY

The Pittsburgh Steelers missed T.J. Watt for a two-month stretch this past season, losing five of their six games without him after he partially tore a pectoral early on. His influence when on the field is undeniable, and FanDuel Sportsbook recognizes that.

Watt is listed with the second-best odds (+800) to win next season’s AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. At +700, Dallas’ Micah Parsons and Cleveland’s Myles Garrett are the only players with better chances.

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Other on-shore sportsbooks have Watt as the favorite to claim the honor.

In terms of FanDuel odds, the 49ers’ Nick Bosa is +1100, the New York Jets’ Ahmad Gardner +1200, and the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby also +1200. Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has +10000 odds to take home the honor, while Cam Heyward is listed at +20000.

Making Up for Lost Time

T.J. Watt already has one league Defensive Player of the Year to his name, earning it in 2021 after notching 22.5 sacks, forcing five fumbles, and jumping on three more. He followed that up with an impactful performance in the 2022 regular-season opener against Cincinnati.

In that nail-biting overtime win over the Bengals, he totaled six solo stops — three of which were for a loss — an interception, and two passes defended. The joy of the victory was hampered as Watt left in the fourth quarter, his left arm dangling at his side.

The Steelers had trouble in his absence, and although Alex Highsmith stepped up in his place, the team lost four in a row. After Watt’s return in Week 10 against New Orleans, Pittsburgh won seven of nine and gave itself a chance to get to the postseason.

Bosa won this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award with a league-leading 18.5 sacks and 51 total takedowns.

If Watt can play to that sort of level — which he’s very obviously already shown he’s capable of doing — and Kenny Pickett and the Steelers’ offense continues its progression, the team should find itself in a good position this fall.

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