Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) sacks Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) during the second half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
It’s still early in the 2026 season, but Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is already making a strong case to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
Last season, he finished second to Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett in voting by a nationwide panel of media.
Garrett, who now plays for the Rams, is on injured reserve, which has allowed other players to emerge.
Article continues below this ad
With a little more than a quarter of the season complete, Anderson, the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player, leads the league with 7 ½ sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
He is on pace to shatter all of last season’s numbers. And he’s doing it in a variety of ways — whether that’s in the run game or getting after the quarterback.
“He’s the best defensive player right now on our team, probably in the NFL,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s just everything you want. You talk about a guy who plays with passion, a guy who has this undeniable strain and relentlessness to him, that’s what Will exhibits every single time he lines up on the field.”
Many could have foreshadowed this rise.
Article continues below this ad
Anderson was dominating during training camp — so much so that Ryans used to joke that they planned to hold him back in practice so the offense could actually work on things.
“It’s the same thing he’s doing in games, just really wrecking plays, dominating whenever he gets the opportunity,” Ryans said.
But Anderson is no shoo-in.
Other players have also made strong cases. Among the early front-runners are Anderson, Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau, Giants safety Jevon Holland and Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie.
Honorable mentions go to Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones.
Article continues below this ad
But let’s look at all four front-runners:
Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) sacks Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17), forcing a fumble and a turnover, during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Will Anderson Jr., edge, Houston Texans
Anderson is 15th in pass rush win rate among edge rushers and third in run stop win rate, according to ESPN’s advanced analytics. Both stats measure how often a rusher beats a blocker on each play.
He is third in quarterback pressures (31) and second in quarterback hits (14), according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Article continues below this ad
But the biggest reason for his frontrunner status has been his ability to impact games in the most critical of situations.
He had three sacks of the Titans’ Cam Ward on Sunday. And the week before, he had a blocked field goal against the Cowboys.
Three weeks ago against the Colts, Anderson forced a critical fumble in the fourth quarter, which gave the offense the ball back and allowed them to briefly take the lead. He can take over a game whenever he wishes.
Key stats: 27 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 7 ½ sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, one field goal block.
Los Angeles Rams place kicker Harrison Mevis (92) attempts a field goal as Buffalo Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau defends during overtime of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif.
Scott Strazzante/AP Photo/Scott Strazzante
Greg Rousseau, edge rusher, Buffalo Bills
Rousseau has been another impact player who has dominated. Rousseau had two forced fumbles and two sacks in the season opener against the Texans. One of those forced fumbles happened on the Texans’ last drive as they were trying to score a game-winning touchdown.
Article continues below this ad
Then, Monday night against the Rams, he blocked a potential game-winning field goal in overtime. The Bills got the ball back and won it on the next drive.
Rousseau is second in the league with six sacks, tied for the lead with three forced fumbles, fourth in quarterback pressures (28), and first in quarterback hits (17).
Key stats: 20 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 FFs.
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) intercepts a pass intended to New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Monday, Sept. 21, 2026.
Kyusung Gong/Associated Press
Trent McDuffie, CB, Los Angeles Rams
McDuffie has played at an elite level through the first five games. He’s operating in a no-fly zone. Opposing quarterbacks have a 20.1 passer rating when targeting him, which is the best in the NFL. In 161 coverage snaps, he’s allowed just six catches for 65 yards and no touchdowns.
He has one interception and is tied for second in the league with seven pass deflections, while playing man-to-man coverage on 47.2% of his snaps.
Wide receivers are open against him on only 14.1% of their routes, which ranks second only behind Philadelphia’s Quinyon Mitchell.
Soon enough, quarterbacks will stop testing him.
Key stats: 20.1 passer rating against him, 7 PD, one interception, no touchdowns allowed.
New York Giants safety Jevon Holland, top, celebrates his interception with teammates late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
Adam Hunger/AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Jevon Holland, S, New York Giants
Holland is a ball-hawk in every sense of the word. He is tied for the lead league with three interceptions. He also has two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
His ability to create takeaways and change games is why he’s being considered.
The advanced analytics bolster the statistics. Opposing quarterbacks have a 52.8 passer rating when targeting Holland, according to the NFL’s Next Gen stats.
Safeties rarely win the award, but there is something to say about his ability to take the ball away.
Key stats: 21 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 FFs, 1 FR