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Za’Darius Smith’s Three-Sack Performance in Week 4 Vaults Him Into Top 4 Contenders in NFL DPOY Odds

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in NFL Football

Updated Mar 9, 2021 · 1:39 PM PST

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) in action during an NFL divisional playoff football game between the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
  • Green Bay Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith’s odds to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year are now +1500, making the fourth choice
  • Smith’s odds were +3600 prior to Week 4 when he had three sacks in the Packers’ win over the Atlanta Falcons
  • See the updated the odds and our pick to win the award below

Za’Darius Smith used the big stage of Monday Night Football to better his odds of winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

The Green Bay Packers linebacker’s odds have improved to +1500 in the wake of a three-sack performance in a 30-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4. Smith’s odds were +3600 going into that game.

Here is a look at the most recent NFL DPOY odds and our pick to win the award.

2020 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds

Player Odds
T.J. Watt (Steelers) +450
Aaron Donald (Rams) +700
Myles Garrett (Browns) +850
Za’Darius Smith (Packers) +1500
Khalil Mack (Bears) +1700

Odds taken Oct. 6 at FanDuel

Primetime Performance

The Falcons could not handle Smith as he recorded three of the four sacks of Matt Ryan as the Packers kept their record perfect at 4-0.

In all, Smith had four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. His eight tackles tied for the team-high and six of them were solos.

One knock on Smith’s performance was that each of his sacks came after the Packers had already taken a 20-3 lead.

Smith’s first takedown of Ryan came on the final play of the first half. The other two came late in the fourth quarter as the Falcons abandoned the running game in a desperate comeback effort that fell well short.

However, Smith’s effort did come in front of a national television audience. That means more award voters got the opportunity to watch him than if it happened on Sunday afternoon.

Leader of the Sacks

Smith’s performance in Week 4, which boosted his sack total to an NFL-leading five, was easily his best of the season.

While Smith had two sacks through the first three games, they were his only tackles for loss. He also had just three quarterback hits and eight tackles while also forcing a fumble.

Yet it would not be fair to write Smith’s performance against the Falcons off just because it came against an 0-4 team.

Smith had a breakout season in 2019, his first with the Packers. He signed with Green Bay as a free agent after spending the first four years of his career as primarily a reserve with the Baltimore Ravens.

Smith registered 13.5 sacks on his way to being selected to the Pro Bowl. He also had 37 quarterback hits and 17 tackles for loss.

In 20 regular-season games with the Packers, Smith has 18.5 sacks. That matches his total in 58 games with the Ravens.

Is Smith Worthy of DPOY?

Steelers linebacker TJ Watt is the favorite to win DPOY and it is warranted because he has been both effective and efficient through Pittsburgh’s first three games.

Watt has 3.5 sacks, five tackles for a loss and ten QB hits.

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is off to a strong start with 3.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and ten quarterback hits.

Tied with Smith for the league sack lead with five, defensive end Myles Garrett has had a strip-sack during each game of the Cleveland Browns’ current three-game winning streak.

Watt is the pick, but his odds are small. A good value play would be Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard, the leading tackler on the top defense in the NFL.

As far as Smith, he looked good Monday night against a bad team. Let’s see a little more, though, before considering making a wager on him.

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