Will Anderson Jr. is having an incredible rookie season.
Despite missing two games this season, he ranks second among rookies with seven sacks on the year – a Houston Texans franchise record – and first with 22 quarterback hits. Anderson is also tied with Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt for the third-best pass-rush win rate this season behind only the Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons and the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett.
Anderson has proven to be one of the best defensive rookies this year, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Several other first-year players are fighting for the award, and some of them could add to their candidacy in the final week of the regular season.
Here are five players who could beat Anderson for DPOY.