Pro Football Focus is at it again, and in their latest analytics, they have Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt as the best pass-rusher coming off the left side.
In 2018, no one, not even the Denver Broncos’ Von Miller or the Dallas Cowboys’ recently paid DeMarcus Lawrence, graded better than the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Watt would never declare in 2018 that he was back after playing just eight games in the past two seasons. However, the club received a tremendous boost from his 16.0 sacks, a league-leading seven forced fumbles, four pass deflections, and 18 tackles for loss in 16 starts.
If the former 2011 first-round pick from Wisconsin can find ways to stay as the NFL’s leader in rushes off the left side, then it will bode well in the Texans’ crusade to return to the playoffs and advance beyond the divisional round.
