Three-time defensive player of the year J.J. Watt recently underwent back surgery, and is no lock to be ready for the start of the season. Initially it was said he could miss 6-8 weeks, but that was quickly revised to up to 10 weeks. If so, he could miss up to a month of the regular season.

Watt underwent sports hernia surgery earlier in the offseason, and now this to repair a herniated disc. Houston's first game is September 11, just over seven weeks away. It's iffy whether he'll be available, and even if he is, it will probably take a while for him to get up to speed.

A year ago Houston finished as the 12th-ranked fantasy defense (1 point for sacks, 2 for turnovers, 6 for defensive and special teams touchdowns). A lot of that was due to ranking 5th in sacks and 11 in fumble recoveries, which Watt himself has quite a bit to do with.

Watt was either 1st or 2nd in sacks in each of the last two seasons; his 38 over that span is nearly 10 more than any other player (Justin Houston ranks 2nd with 29.5). His absence, if it plays out that way, will leave a big hole in Houston's defense for as much time he misses.

The top sack seasons (everyone with at least 7.0) over the last two years are shown below.

TOP SACK SEASONS, 2014-2015
YearPosPlayerSacks
2014OLB Justin Houston, K.C.22.0
2014DE J.J. Watt, Hou.20.5
2015DE J.J. Watt, Hou.17.5
2014OLB Elvis Dumervil, Balt.17.0
2015DE Khalil Mack, Oak.15.0
2014DE Mario Williams, Buff.14.5
2015DE Ezekiel Ansah, Det.14.5
2014OLB Connor Barwin, Phil.14.5
2014OLB Von Miller, Den.14.0
2014OLB Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.13.5
2015DE Carlos Dunlap, Cin.13.5
2014DE Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG12.5
2015DE Chandler Jones, N.E.12.5
2015OLB Whitney Mercilus, Hou.12.0
2014OLB Terrell Suggs, Balt.12.0
2015DE Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ12.0
2014DE Everson Griffen, Minn.12.0
2014DE Cameron Wake, Mia.11.5
2015OLB Von Miller, Den.11.0
2014OLB Paul Kruger, Clev.11.0
2015DT Kawann Short, Car.11.0
2015DT Geno Atkins, Cin.11.0
2014OLB Clay Matthews, G.B.11.0
2015DT Aaron Donald, St.L.11.0
2014DE Robert Quinn, St.L.10.5
2015OLB Melvin Ingram, S.D.10.5
2015OLB Julius Peppers, G.B.10.5
2015DE Everson Griffen, Minn.10.5
2014DE Willie Young, Chi.10.0
2015DE Michael Bennett, Sea.10.0
2014DT Marcell Dareus, Buff.10.0
2014OLB Junior Galette, N.O.10.0
2014DE Jerry Hughes, Buff.10.0
2014DE DeMarcus Ware, Den.10.0
2015DE Cameron Jordan, N.O.10.0
2015OLB Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.9.5
2015DE Robert Ayers, NYG9.5
2015DE Fletcher Cox, Phil.9.5
2014DE Vinny Curry, Phil.9.0
2015DE Cliff Avril, Sea.9.0
2014DT Aaron Donald, St.L.9.0
2014DT Sen'Derrick Marks, Jac.8.5
2014DT Ndamukong Suh, Det.8.5
2015DT Gerald McCoy, T.B. 8.5
2014DT Gerald McCoy, T.B.8.5
2014DE Charles Johnson, Car.8.5
2014DE Sheldon Richardson, NYJ8.0
2014DE Rob Ninkovich, N.E.8.0
2015DE Preston Smith, Wash.8.0
2015OLB Lamarr Houston, Chi.8.0
2015DE Jabaal Sheard, N.E.8.0
2015LB Dwight Freeney, Ariz.8.0
2015DE Demarcus Lawrence, Dall.8.0
2014DE Chris Clemons, Jac.8.0
2014DE Carlos Dunlap, Cin.8.0
2014OLB Alex Okafor, Ariz.8.0
2014LB Pernell McPhee, Balt.7.5
2015DE Olivier Vernon, Mia.7.5
2015OLB Justin Houston, K.C.7.5
2014OLB Jason Worilds, Pitt.7.5
2014DE Ezekiel Ansah, Det.7.5
2015OLB DeMarcus Ware, Den.7.5
2014DE Cameron Jordan, N.O.7.5
2014DE Cameron Heyward, Pitt.7.5
2015OLB Robert Mathis, Ind.7.0
2014DE Michael Bennett, Sea.7.0
2015DE Kendall Langford, Ind.7.0
2015DE Jurrell Casey, Tenn.7.0
2014OLB Julius Peppers, G.B.7.0
2014DT Johnathan Hankins, NYG7.0
2015DE Jacquies Smith, T.B.7.0
2015DE Devin Taylor, Det.7.0
2015OLB Connor Barwin, Phil.7.0
2015DE Cameron Wake, Mia.7.0
2015DE Cameron Heyward, Pitt.7.0
2014DE Calais Campbell, Ariz.7.0
2015OLB Brian Orakpo, Tenn.7.0

--Andy Richardson