DPOY candidates entering Week 18

By: Jake Rajala

The NFL is entering its final week of the regular season. Hence, it’s the last chance for players to put a pin in their legacy for the 2024-2025 NFL seasons. With that said, the NFL awards are right around the corner. Well, I’m going to talk about players on the defense and take a unique angle by untwining who the darkhorse DPOY candidates are.

Trey Hendrickson

As a die-hard Saints fan, it was hard to see the Saints let Trey Hendrickson leave to the Cincinnati Bengals. Hendrickson is tied with Myles Garrett for the most sacks in the league. He also has five pass deflections. PFF has given him an 86.7 grade for his 2024 season. The Bengals play the Pittsburgh Steelers tomorrow night. The Steelers have given up the 10th most sacks in the league, so Hendrickson has a prime opportunity to leave Garrett in the dust and be the sack king.

Andrew Van Ginkel

The biggest surprise of the season has to be the edge rusher for the Minnesota Vikings, Andrew Van Ginkel. He’s quite the versatile player. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season! He’s also registered 11.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 19 QB hits this season. Like Hendrickson, Van Ginkel has five pass deflections. Van Ginkel will be on the biggest stage this upcoming weekend against the Detroit Lions. Perhaps he can get a turnover and a sack in an NFC North game that could be a shoot-out.

Myles Garrett

Just as Joe Burrow is playing lights out on a pedestrian team, Myles Garrett is balling out on a putrid Cleveland Browns team. Garrett doesn’t only have the same amount of sacks as Hendrickson, he’s much better against the run than Hendrickson. Garrett also blocked a field goal to win a game, too. If Garrett can sack Lamar Jackson a few times this weekend, it would be hard to ignore his production, despite him sitting in a losing locker room.