Chandler Jones Favored to Lead NFL in Sacks Entering Week 11, Preston Smith & Shaq Barrett Close Behind

• Chandler Jones and Shaq Barrett are tied for the league lead in sacks with 11.5
• Packers’ Preston Smith and Browns’ Myles Garrett are tied for third with 10 each
• Read below to find the best bet to top the leaderboard at the end of the regular season

Finding the NFL leader in sacks is about as inexact a science as there can be.

As we preview the sack leader odds available at online betting sites heading into Week 11, get a kick out of the preseason top 10 odds list, which only has two names that are still  in play – Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett and New Orleans Saints DE Cameron Jordan.

2019 NFL Sack Leader Odds

Odds taken November 13.

Outside that top 10 list at a distant +2800 is your current leader, Chandler Jones, whose odds have shrunk all the way down to +300. Jones is tied  in sacks with Buccaneers terror Shaquil Barrett, who wasn’t even on the odds board at the time. Ditto Preston Smith, tied with Garrett for third on the list with 10 apiece.

Let’s look into our crystal ball and find you the winning bet when the dust settles.

Can Jones, Barrett Keep Mashing?

Jones has again proven to be among the most consistent defensive disruptors in the NFL, overshadowed by the team’s poor record. He’s had at least one sack and one quarterback hurry in six of nine games this year, while putting together the fourth straight year of double-digit sacks in a season.

Chandler Jones had a sack & forced fumble on that last drive

Jones’ 51.5 sacks since joining the Cardinals are the most by any NFL player in that span (2016-present) #AZvsTB pic.twitter.com/6xH70nbqkg

— Mark Dalton (@CardsMarkD) November 10, 2019

Barrett seemed to be shot out of a cannon to start the year, crunching QB’s at an historic pace as he racked up eight sacks in just three games. While he crashed back to earth with just one in the next three games (no one could keep that clip, anyways), he’s seemed to have found his way again, picking up 2.5 sacks in Tampa’s last three games.

#Bucs pass-rusher Shaq Barrett is up to 11.5 sacks on the season.

Worth noting: He's scheduled to become a free agent after this season. 💰

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 10, 2019

Regardless of where he finishes, the dude is going to get paid. Double-digit sack artists don’t grow on trees.

Smith, Garrett Right There

The Packers’ resurgence on the defensive side of the football has been the among the main reasons they’re contenders for the Super Bowl. While the secondary gets a lot of love, it’s the Smiths — Preston, and bookend line buddy Za’Darius, who’s got 8.5 sacks of his own — that are cutting down the time a receiver can work to get open. Preston Smith has already surpassed his previous season high of eight sacks in a season, with six games still to play. Two of those remaining opponents are the Giants (fifth most sacks allowed) and the Bears (10th-most).

Preston Smith: 3 sacks
Za'Darius Smith: 2 sacks
Rashan Gary: 1 sack

All 6 sacks of poor Joe Flacco: pic.twitter.com/XOs0zowCNS

— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) September 23, 2019

And despite the woeful play of the Cleveland offense for much of the year, Garrett has been everything as advertised in his third year. The top pick of the 2017 NFL draft has been a force with 10 sacks on the season, and he has a favorable slate of offensive lines to crumple coming home.

Beast. Been that. 💪🏾🦖

@MylesLGarrett: 9️⃣ sacks
👉 Tied for MOST in the @NFL #NFLAggies | #GigEm
pic.twitter.com/6ek92WVdkh

— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) October 20, 2019

Cleveland still has games with the Dolphins (third most sacks allowed), the Cardinals (seventh) and two with the Bengals (eighth).

Watt Charging on Steelers’ Juggernaut D

Not sure if you’ve noticed, but the Steelers’ defense is shredding the opposition, and it all starts with a front four that seemingly collapses the pocket on every drop back. TJ Watt has been getting home plenty: with just one sack in his first three games, he’s helped the Steelers climb out of a 1-4 hole with his play. He’s got home to the quarterback six straight games, including a devastating two-sack performance this last week against the Rams.

https://twitter.com/ATBPGH/status/1194659086639468544

Watt and the Steelers just completed what was considered the meaty part of their schedule. From here on out, six of their final seven games are against teams in the bottom half of sacks allowed, including the second-ranked Jets (39),  the aforementioned Arizona (32) and Cincinnati (31) teams and two games with the Browns (13th-most with 27).

Who’s the Best Bet?

Even now, there’s no telling how the rest of this season is going to play out. But as we’re counting down the games, there’s only so far a player in the back of the field can make up ground. I don’t think Barrett can maintain his pace, and while Jones absolutely could, at +300 there’s too many other value picks worth wagering on, including Garrett at +1000.

However, I think Watt is the best bet and the best value. He’s just two off the leaders, and not only is he currently the most impactful player on this list, he has the most favorable slate of games to wreak havoc.

The pick: Watt (+1400)