2023 NFL sacks leader odds: Steelers' TJ Watt favored over Bengals' Trey Hendrickson entering Week 18

A handful of individual statistical races appear decided entering Week 18, but one that is completely wide open is for the 2023 NFL sacks king with the Steelers' TJ Watt and the Bengals' Trey Hendrickson tied with 17 apiece, and the Jaguars' Josh Allen and the Chargers' Khalil Mack right behind with 16 each. Watt is the -150 favorite at FanDuel and would make NFL history if he wins the title again.

Watt's big brother JJ won the sacks title twice and NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times in his Hall of Fame career. TJ won the sacks title in 2020 with 15 and in 2021 with a league-record tying 22.5. The younger Watt was limited to 10 games due to injury in 2022, and the 49ers' Nick Bosa led the NFL with 18.5 sacks. Watt looks to become the first player ever to lead the league in sacks in three different seasons. He is one of eight players to lead twice.

The 29-year-old will be going all-out in Week 18 because Pittsburgh has to win in Baltimore on Saturday to have a chance at a postseason berth. Watt won't have to chase around the highly mobile Lamar Jackson, as the Ravens are resting their superstar quarterback with their postseason status locked in. Tyler Huntley, who himself isn't exactly a statue, will start at quarterback. When Baltimore lost 17-10 in Pittsburgh in Week 5, Watt sacked Jackson twice.

Watt didn't have a sack in last week's 30-23 loss in Seattle and suffered a minor injury but will play. The outside linebacker has already won the team's MVP Award for the fourth time in five years with the team. He did not win it last year after suffering torn pectoral muscle. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick took home the honor.

Cincinnati has never had an official sacks champion as sacks have only been an official statistic since 1982. Unofficially, Coy Bacon led the league in 1976 with 22 sacks. The Bengals have nothing to play for Sunday against Cleveland as they have been eliminated from playoff contention. The Browns won't exactly be motivated either, as they're locked into their wild card seed and will rest QB Joe Flacco and others.

Hendrickson and other healthy Bengals starters are fully expected to play. Hendrickson has at least one sack in seven straight games and at least half a sack in eight straight. He's +270 to win the title. No Cincinnati player has won a major individual statistical title since 2019 when safety Brandon Wilson led the NFL in kick returns.

"It has been a historic year," Bengals coach Zac Taylor said of Hendrickson. "The work that he's put in to put himself in that position and the attention he can draw and still defeat a lot of those looks," Taylor said. "We've talked about this over years past.  Even when he's not getting the sack, just the feel and attention he draws is critical."

Hendrickson had one sack in Cincinnati's Week 1 loss at Cleveland. The Browns are starting journeyman Jeff Driskel at QB and almost surely will be resting some starting offensive linemen as well.

Mack is +1100 to win the sacks title and Allen is +2500. Neither has won it previously. The last Chargers winner was Shawne Merriman with 17.0 in 2006. The Jaguars have never had a winner. Allen has picked a good time for a career year (previous best of 10.5 sacks) as he's set for free agency, although the Jags may simply use the franchise tag on him. 

Get more out of your SportsLine subscription! 

• Picks: NFL | NBA | CFB | CBB
• DFS: Lineup Optimizer | Picks
• Early Edge: YouTube | Apple Podcasts
• Newsletters: SportsLine Daily | Fantasy

Qualifying SportsLine members receive a 30-day free trial of Paramount+ Essential. Sync your account right here.