The Broncos defense could be on the brink of a historic run. Nik Bonitto has burst onto the scene with 4.5 sacks in four games and a league-leading 27 pressures on 86 rush attempts, plus 15 quick pressures and a 31.4% pressure rate. His dominance has people asking if Denver can repeat the DPOY feat with a different player this year. Bonitto sits behind Burns and Garrett in sacks but leads in other pass-rush metrics, making him a frontrunner for the award at midseason.

Historical context shows only a handful of teams spawned back-to-back DPOY winners, with the Steelers, Bills and Ravens providing the template. If Bonitto maintains this pace, the Broncos’ top-tier defense could redefine the award’s arc for the franchise. Denver’s run defense isn’t elite, but their edge pressure has become the league’s most disruptive force, validating the early hype around Bonitto and the unit’s overall impact.

Denver's rookie Sai'vion Jones flashed upside in a limited NFL debut, six defensive snaps and a pressure on Jake Browning, signaling a real developmental path behind the Broncos' starting ends. Coaches praised his size, length and motor, projecting a gradual ramp as he learns the NFL game.

Jones sits behind John Franklin-Myers and Zach Allen, with a versatile cast—Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper—giving Denver a deeper edge rotation. GM George Paton and coach Sean Payton stress ongoing growth, setting up a potential late-season uptick for the pass rush and a valuable developmental arc for fantasy managers to monitor.

Cleveland Browns’ defensive line dominates Week 3, with Myles Garrett’s relentless rush forcing Love into frequent hurried throws and six sacks. The unit’s elite pass-rush and run-stopping grades underscore a sustainable fantasy edge as they head toward Week 4 vs Detroit. Denver’s front also surged, piling up 38 pressures in Week 3 and climbing to the NFL lead in pressures for the season. The trendlines spotlight Browns, Broncos and the Jets/Steelers fronts as true week-to-week fantasy leverage points.

Expect Browns’ front to carry sack upside and tackle-for-loss potential against strong offenses, while Broncos’ pressure pace should boost their secondary play and elevate linebackers and DBs in fantasy and prop bets. Run defense remains a differentiator for Vikings, Jets and Steelers, shaping matchup-based bets and streaming decisions as October looms.