Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) sacks Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during an NFL football game Sunday.
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Micah Parsons knows only one speed — warp.
The Green Bay Packers’ defensive end has been a force since arriving via trade on Aug. 28. Parsons is sixth in the NFL in sacks with 6.5 and ranks among the NFL leaders in pressures. Parsons has attracted double- and triple-teams all season, helping teammate Rashan Gary post 7.5 sacks.
Parsons also has the highest overall grade of all edge rushers at Pro Football Focus, with an impressive mark of 93.4.
Add it all up and it’s easy to see why Parsons is the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year honors at both FanDuel and DraftKings.
“Micah is a phenomenal player,” Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love said of Parsons. “I think everybody knew who we were getting when we made that trade for him. So I think the most surprising thing for me is just the way he is every day at practice. You know, the player you see out there on the field on Sunday is the same player in practice where, you know, we’re trying to have to tell him to ease up sometimes and stay away from me at times, because he’s always hunting, trying to get those sacks and trying to win every rep.”
At DraftKings, Parsons is listed at +150 to win Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Cleveland’s Myles Garrett is second at +250. Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson (+400), Denver’s Nik Bonitto (+750) and Houston’s Will Anderson Jr. (+1000) round out the top five.
Parsons is a larger favorite at FanDuel, where his odds are +145 and Garrett is second at +300). Hutchinson (+500), Bonitto (+750) and Anderson (+1000) round out the top five there, as well.
“I just think he’s been incredible since the day we’ve gotten him,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said of Parsons. “It doesn’t take long. You sit down with him, he’s a really intelligent person, first and foremost, but then you go out there and watch how he practices. He gives great effort in practice and I think that’s why.
“He’s a freak of nature, anyway, but I think guys that do that, that are built like that, and then they have those habits that they form in practice. It’s not surprising to me that he can go out there and have a lot of success in the games.”
