There Is Outrageous Value With A 100:1 Future That Has Legs and His Name Is Calijah Kancey

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I've been ice cold the past two weeks in my picks, admittedly. No way to hide that. I focus on props but always have an eye on futures markets and something stood out to me when I took a scroll today in the NFL markets.

Buccaneers Defensive Tackle Calijah Kancey was the 19th overall pick in April's Draft. There was a lot of buzz around him from mini-camp, but he injured his calf before the first pre-season game so never suited up for a game in August. He did rehad his calf strain enough where he played Week 1 vs. Minnesota, but he only played 11 snaps before re-injuring his calf. Now calf injuries are tricky and can linger, but coming off their bye week in Week 5, the Buccaneers hosted the Detroit Lions on Sunday and Kancey was fantastic.

He logged 1.0 sacks, 1 TFL, and 3 total tackles and 2 QB hits. He played 40 overall snaps and was disruptive throughout the game. That's all great and this is being pointed to as a homer pick, but the fact of the matter is, I watch the tape. This guy stood out. I would be doing all my readers and followers a disservice by not pointing out value. 

But first, I looked at the competition.

Jalen Carter is the odds on favorite at -150 but missed the last game with an ankle injury he sustained in practice last Wednesday. Carter has 3.5 sacks in five games and certainly has the best shot at winning this award. Looking at past Defensive Player of the Year winners, since 2010, there have been three Defensive Tackles that have won the award (Ndamukong Suh - 2010, Sheldon Richardson - 2013, & Aaron Donald - 2014).

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Those guys put up numbers (outside of Richardson who was disruptive, but 2013 was a historically weak class)

Suh (2010): 10.0 sacks

Richardson (2013): 3.5 sacks

Donald (2014): 9.0 sacks

This Draft class' top pass rusher, Will Anderson Jr. has 1.0 sack so far through six weeks and is 12:1 to win the award. Brian Branch has a pick 6 vs. Patrick Mahomes but has missed the last two games with an injury. Devon Witherspoon is absolutely a threat to win at +290 as he has 2.0 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD, and 7 passes defensed, but he's also missed a game. 

My point is that Kancey represents terrific value right now and outside of Carter and Witherspoon, has as good a shot as any of these guys to win the award if he stays healthy. There is value right now at 100:1 so I'd encourage a very very light sprinkle. Throw $10 on it and maybe you get a four figure return.