NFL’s sack leaders (including Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.) entering Week 17

Did Danielle Hunter or Will Anderson Jr. gain ground in the hunt for the title of sack master in 2024 following Wednesday’s Christmas game?

How good is the duo of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter? Let’s just say the Houston Texans duo are in a class of their own.

Well, they share the title with another duo from the Great White North.

Along with Minnesota Vikings pass rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andre Van Ginkel, Anderson and Hunter are the only pass-rushing duo to have double-digit sacks entering Week 17. Both rank inside the top eight in sacks and top five in tackles for loss.

During Wednesday’s 31-2 loss against the Baltimore Ravens, Hunter didn’t record a sack and finished with four total tackles. Anderson the former No. 3 overall pick, was one of two players to finish with a sack and led the team with two tackles for loss.

Going the rest of Week 17, Hunter ranks second in the NFL with 12 sacks, trailing only Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson. Anderson, who joins J.J. Watt as the second Texans player to record double-digit sacks in his second season, now ranks just outside the top five with 11 on the year.

Hunter remains a dark horse to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year entering the season finale against the Tennessee Titans. Anderson, who ranks eighth in the NFL with 16 tackles for loss, also could gain ground with a sound performance in Nashville next week.

NFL sack leaders going into Week 17

  1. Trey Hendrickson: 13.5
  2. Danielle Hunter: 12.0
  3. Myles Garrett: 12.0
  4. Kyle Van Noy: 10.5
  5. T.J. Watt: 11.5
  6. Nik Bonitto: 11.5
  7. Will Anderson: 11.0
  8. Andrew Van Ginkel: 11.0
  9. Jonathan Greenard: 11.0
  10. Will McDonald: 10.0

The Texans, who already clinched the AFC South division title in Week 15, hit the road next week after 10 days off to take on the Titans at Nissan Stadium.