T.J. Watt Favorite to Finish Season as NFL Sack Leader

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt is currently second in the NFL with 12 sacks, but the star pass rusher is the betting favorite to finish the season as the league leader.

Watt is listed at 3/2 to be the NFL’s sack leader by seasons end.

Watt entered Week 14 pacing the league, but was overtaken by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who recorded a sack-and-a-half against the New England Patriots on Thursday night. He owns the second-best odds at 9/4.

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (3/1), Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson (11/2) and Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith (6/1) round out the top five.

Watt finished tied for fifth with a career-high 14.5 sacks a season ago. With 12 through 12 games, he is on pace to set a new high watermark once again. Watt currently leads the league with 19 tackles-for-loss and 37 hits on opposing quarterbacks.

Selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin, Watt has been selected to two Pro Bowls and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2019. He has 46.5 career sacks, while also forcing 16 fumbles, posting 55 tackles-for-loss and intercepting four passes.

Watt would become just the second Steeler ever to finish the season as the league’s sack leader, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Kevin Greene in 1994.

Former Steelers outside linebacker Joey Porter’s 17.5 sacks in 2008 are the most in a single season in team history.