Is There Value in Betting Anyone Other Than Aaron Donald to Lead NFL in Sacks?
- Aaron Donald is a monster leading the NFL in sacks
- Rams remaining schedule has Donald licking his chops
- Is there anyone else worth wagering on to surpass Donald in sacks?
Aaron Donald continues his assault on the NFL despite the league’s best effort to legislate defense out of the game.
He’s been terrorizing opposing offenses all season to the tune of 14.5 sacks through 11 games – three more than anyone else. There’s little reason to suggest he’ll relinquish his tight grip on the lead with just five games to go, but could the improbable happen?
Odds to Lead NFL in Sacks in 2018
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Aaron Donald | -400 |
| J.J. Watt | +500 |
| Danielle Hunter | +550 |
| Chandler Jones | +1200 |
| Von Miller | +1500 |
| Jason Pierre-Paul | +1600 |
| Myles Garrett | +3300 |
| Frank Clark | +3300 |
| T.J. Watt | +3300 |
Aaron Donald having historic season
What Donald is doing is simply not human.
Not only will he most certainly take the sack crown, there is serious traction for the Rams behemoth to take home league MVP honors as well.
Only two defensive players in NFL history have won MVP.@AaronDonald97 might have a case to be the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/t0x3MJPQw2
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 28, 2018
The 2014 13th-overall pick is shattering even his own records, already having smashed his personal high in sacks. These gaudy numbers would be outstanding from a defensive end but doing it as a pure defensive tackle? Simply unheard of!
Aaron Donald Sacks Year-by-Year
| Year | Sacks |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 14.5 (on pace for 22) |
Think about that for a second. He’s been a three-time All-Pro and won Defensive Player of the Year last season, totaling 11 sacks. He’s on pace to double that total this season!
A force to be reckoned with. @AaronDonald97's league-leading 14.5 sacks are the most by a defensive tackle since 2000. ? pic.twitter.com/j2bWxmCpgP
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 28, 2018
2018 NFL Sacks Leaders
| Player | Sacks |
|---|---|
| Aaron Donald | 14.5 |
| J.J. Watt | 11.5 |
| Danielle Hunter | 11.5 |
| Chandler Jones | 11 |
| Von Miller | 10.5 |
| Jason Pierre-Paul | 10.5 |
| Myles Garrett | 10 |
| Frank Clark | 10 |
| T.J. Watt | 10 |
JJ Watt the Main Threat to Aaron Donald’s Crown
The only player worth looking at surpassing Donald would be three-time Defensive Player of the Year and two-time sacks leader Justin James Watt.
Houston has been firing on all cylinders, so with teams having to play catch up each game, Watt can tee off and rack up the sacks. The total record of their last five opponents is 21-33-1, with only the Colts sporting a winning record.
We’re gonna talk about Aaron Donald in the conversation with the greatest football players ever
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) November 20, 2018
Translation=sacks baby! However, don’t bank on it happening.
Los Angeles Rams Remaining Schedule
| Team | Sacks Allowed Rank |
|---|---|
| at Lions | 13th |
| at Bears | 23rd |
| vs Eagles | 9th |
| at Cardinals | 15th |
| vs 49ers | 7th |
The Rams remaining schedule offers Donald plenty more opportunities to keep the run away locomotive going. Only the Bears pose a serious threat with the other four teams no better than 15th in sacks allowed.
AARON DONALD TAKEOVER.
His SECOND strip-sack of the game! #ChiefsKingdom
?: #KCvsLAR on ESPN pic.twitter.com/WhCI3R8G0g
— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2018
As tempting as it might be to lay some cash on the other guys available, in particular Watt, your best call is to not make a bet against Donald whatsoever – after all, he’s simply doing what mere mortals wouldn’t be able to accomplish.
Aaron Donald is not human.
— mark schlereth (@markschlereth) November 20, 2018
Michael "Hound Dog" Harrison is well known in the sports industry as the resident statistician for the SC with Jay Onrait Show. He has worked at TSN for over 16 years, where he's been featured on Sportscentre, That's Hockey, That's Hockey 2Nite, The Masters preview shows, and several more.
