What happened: Will Anderson Jr. tops the 2026 regular-season leaderboard at 7.5 sacks, per PFF. He entered the campaign ranked No. 12 on the NFL Top 100.

Why it matters: A 1.5-sack cushion over second place (6.0) and a two-sack gap to the tie for third (5.5) separate Anderson from the rest of the pass-rushing pack approaching November. Sustained pocket disruption at that volume dictates opposing protection schemes and places him at the front of the midseason defensive awards race.

What to watch: Anderson puts his league-leading mark on the line in the upcoming regular-season slate as the schedule turns to November.