Earlier this month, I wrote about the Best Bets for NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY).' In it, I made the case that sacks are the major factor in deciding the race for the NFL's best defensive player. Now let's take a look at a few longshot bets of players who I think have a shot at the sack title:
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Von Miller (+4000)
OLB Von Miller joins a Buffalo Bills defense that was the best in the NFL last season. The Bills were first in points allowed, yards, and yards per play. You know, the important ones. They also led the league in another important stat for the purpose of this DPOY discussion: QB pressure percentage. On a whopping 30.7% of opponents’ dropbacks, the Bills were able to pressure the quarterback. Miller has finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year vote twice in his career. Last season, between his time with the Broncos and Rams, he finished with the third-highest PFF Defensive Grade for edge defenders. If the Bills’ defense dominates as the No. 1 unit in the NFL again and Miller shines in this pressure-heavy system, he could find himself in the DPOY race. 40-to-1 odds on a household name who has seven seasons of double-digit sack totals and is now on the best defense in the NFL sounds pretty enticing.