The final week of the regular season is for more than just playoff positioning, as it is also the last chance for players to earn their regular season incentives.
Every year, Week 18 features individual players aiming to hit their contract incentive milestones with one last big performance. Some players are close to crossing their incentive finish lines, while others need to produce bigger totals to secure the money.
Big-name quarterbacks top the list of players closest to hitting their incentives in Week 18, with Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Aaron Rodgers all in line to hit their milestones. Here’s a tracker of all the incentives in play during the final weekend.
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NFL contract incentives trackerSaturday, Jan. 3
4:30 p.m.: Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is set to earn $500,000 each for finishing in the top 10 in the NFL or top five in the NFC in any of the following categories: passer rating, touchdown passes, passing yards, completion percentage and yards per pass. Mayfield’s best chances to get these incentives are in passing yards (12th in the NFL, 6th in the NFC) and touchdown passes (T-7th in the NFL, T-4th in the NFC).Panthers RB Rico Dowdle needed seven yards from scrimmage to reach 1,350, which would have earned him $1 million in incentives. He ran for 10 yards and added 20 receiving yards, so despite an overall rough game, he still met the requirement to trigger his bonus. Dowdle has now earned a total of $2.75 million in performance bonuses this season, a number equal to his base salary.
8:00 p.m.: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold would earn an extra $500,000 if he hits 4,000 passing yards on the season, and he needs just 150 passing yards against the 49ers to hit that number. Darnold can also earn $500,000 for throwing three touchdowns to hit 28 total, and another $500,000 if he raises his passer rating from 99.2 to 100 to end the year.Seahawks DL DeMarcus Lawrence would earn $500,000 for collecting eight sacks while Seattle makes the playoffs. The Seahawks are already in the playoffs, so Lawrence needs just two sacks to unlock this incentive.EDGE Uchenna Nwosu needs two sacks to collect $250,000 in incentives.Â
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Sunday, Jan. 4
1:00 p.m.: Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Titans RB Tony Pollard needs 66 rushing yards to hit 1,100 on the year, which would give him an extra $250,000.Jaguars DL Arik Armstead will earn a $1 million incentive for collecting 1.5 sacks against the Titans, which would give him eight on the season.
1:00 p.m.: Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints
Saints DL Nathan Shepherd needs 0.5 sacks to hit 3.5 on the season, which would give him a $250,000 incentive.
1:00 p.m.: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Vikings DL Jonathan Allen would earn an extra $250,000 if he collects 1.5 sacks on Sunday to get to five sacks this season.
4:25 p.m.: Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Commanders WR Deebo Samuel has already earned $700,000 in incentives for reaching 70 catches and 700 receiving yards, and he can earn an extra $200,000 each for another 10 catches and 93 yards against the Eagles.Commanders LB Von Miller would earn $500,000 for collecting a sack on Sunday, giving him nine on the season.
4:25 p.m.: Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets
If Bills WR Khalil Shakir scores a touchdown against the Jets, he will have five for the year and get an extra $150,000.Bills TE Dawson Knox needs just seven receiving yards for 400 on the year, which would earn him a $100,000 incentive.Bills DE Joey Bosa would get $250,000 for getting one sack against the Jets, giving him six this year.
4:25 p.m.: New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
Patriots TE Hunter Henry needs five catches to get to 60 for the season, allowing him to earn an extra $250,000
4:25 p.m.: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Chiefs DE George Karlaftis would earn another $250,000 for getting two sacks on Sunday, hitting eight on the year.
4:25 p.m.: Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams
Cardinals DL Calais Campbell can get a $500,000 incentive for collecting one sack against the Rams for 7.5 this year.
8:20 p.m.: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers can earn a $500,000 incentive for helping Pittsburgh clinch a playoff spot, with incentives increasing for each playoff victory.
MORE: Where Aaron Rodgers ranks among NFL’s all-time passing leaders
NFL Week 18 contract incentive trackerTeamPlayerNeedsTo earnPanthersRico Dowdle7 scrimmage yards$1 millionSeahawksSam Darnold3 passing touchdowns$500,000SeahawksSam Darnold150 passing yards$500,000SeahawksDeMarcus Lawrence2 sacks$500,000TitansTony Pollard66 rushing yards$250,000JaguarsArik Armstead1.5 sacks$1 millionSaintsNathan Shepherd0.5 sacks$250,000VikingsJonathan Allen1.5 sacks$250,000CommandersDeebo Samuel10 catches$200,000CommandersDeebo Samuel93 receiving yards$200,000CommandersVon Miller1 sack$500,000BillsKhalil Shakir1 receiving touchdown$150,000BillsDawson Knox5 receiving yards$100,000BillsJoey Bosa1 sack$250,000PatriotsHunter Henry5 catches$250,000ChiefsGeorge Karlaftis2 sacks$250,000CardinalsCalais Campbell1 sack$500,000SteelersAaron Rodgers1 win$500,000