Updated NFL DPOY odds after Week 8: Finding value behind heavily favored Parsons

As the NFL season approaches its midway point, it’s time to take a close look at the updated NFL DPOY odds for 2022.

There are plenty of familiar faces among the best defensive players in the league this year, but Defensive Player of the Year honors are far from decided. Nevertheless, we wanted to take a closer look at some of the NFL DPOY favorites at this point in the season.

Updated NFL DPOY odds 2022

Instead of just focusing on NFL MVP betting, it’s not a bad idea to look at the other side of the ball.

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There are plenty of candidates in the running, so it’s possible to find good value. Of course, some bettors will also look to play it safe by taking one of the midseason favorites. Either way, let’s take a closer look at the updated NFL DPOY odds in 2022.

Micah Parsons, -180

For those who need football betting explained, the negative number next to Micah Parsons means he’s the clear frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year right now. Frankly, he could become the yearly favorite and would probably have the shortest NFL DPOY odds in 2023, 2024, and beyond.

During the current season, he’s crushing it with eight sacks, which is tied for second in the league after eight weeks. But he does so much more than just rush the passer. He’s an athletic freak who can line up almost anywhere on the field.

He also returned a fumble for a touchdown when the Cowboys beat the Bears in Week 8, showing a different type of speed and athleticism. He’s quickly become the top defensive player in the league and has established himself as the clear favorite for DPOY honors.

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Nick Bosa, +900

In his return from an injury that sidelined him for most of 2020, Nick Bosa led the league in tackles for a loss last season while also racking up 15.5 sacks. In 2022, the younger Bosa brother has eight sacks in eight games, putting him on pace to top last year’s total and setting a new career high.

He’s also anchoring a top-five defense that is carrying the 49ers right now and is the biggest reason why San Francisco is in the hunt in the NFC West right now. Granted, there is a lot of talent around him, but Bosa is the engine that makes the San Francisco defense run, and if he finishes with 15 or more sacks, he’ll have to be a serious candidate for Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Myles Garrett, +1300

Playing on a bad defense is sure to hurt Myles Garrett’s DPOY candidacy this season. But it’s still hard to deny that he’s one of the most impactful defensive players in the league.

At age 26, he appears to be in the prime of his career as a top-flight pass rusher. He tallied 16 sacks last season and looks good to match or exceed that total this season. However, Garrett will have to do something extraordinary if he’s going to overcome playing on a losing team that struggles defensively.

Aaron Donald, +1600

At the start of the season, Aaron Donald would have been an obvious pick for Defensive Player of the Year. But the updated NFL DPOY odds for 2022 have him a little down the totem pole. He’s tallied a modest four sacks in seven games for the Rams, who are just 3-4 and currently sit third in the NFC West.

Obviously, Donald has been as dominant as usual while his team’s lack of success isn’t helping his chances either. However, Donald is still someone to watch in the DPOY race. He’s more than capable of finishing the season strong and becoming a force of nature down the stretch. If the Rams can also finish strong, Donald could get a lot of attention, especially since he’s already won the award three times.

Von Miller, +1800

He might be with a new team and he might be 33 years old, but Von Miller looks like the same player he’s always been. Of course, he’s not the only star player on a Buffalo defense that’s allowed the fewest points in the NFL thus far.

But he still looks the part of a top-flight pass-rusher. Plus, with all of the injuries the Bills have suffered to key players in their secondary, the team’s pass rush has become even more important.

With Miller on pace to collect close to 15 sacks, he has to be in contention to win Defensive Player of the Year for the first time if he’s able to sustain his current performance all season. That’s even more true if the Bills can continue to dominate on that side of the ball and remain the best defensive team in football this year because Miller has clearly been a catalyst for Buffalo’s success.

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Maxx Crosby, +2000

Maxx Crosby will have a hard time winning hardware on one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

But he deserves some credit for racking up six sacks in seven games. It’s especially impressive because the Raiders aren’t always playing with the lead. In his fourth season, Crosby looks to be having a true breakout season and could end up among the league leaders in sacks.

Best bet for 2022 DPOY

There are two ways to approach betting on Defensive Player of the Year. The safe approach is to bet on Parsons. At this point, it’ll take him getting injured or a truly exemplary performance from someone else for Parsons not to win DPOY.

But he’s such an obvious choice that there’s limited value in him. The other option would be to take a chance on a player who could kick things into another gear down the stretch and overtake Parsons, albeit with a little bit of luck.

If that’s the approach, Bosa and Donald are the best bets. Both are elite talents who are capable of single-handedly dominating games. While both would be considered a long shot right now, both Bosa and Donald could be worth a flyer, especially given their current odds.