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 earned an extra $500,000 by hitting 4,000 passing yards on the season, which he hit Saturday night while playing the 49ers.Darnold had the chance earn $500,000 for throwing three touchdowns to hit 28 total in the regular season, but didn’t add to his total in the Week 18 over San Francisco. and another $500,000 if he raises his passer rating from 99.2 to 100 to end the year.Seahawks DL DeMarcus Lawrence could’ve earned $500,000 for collecting eight sacks while Seattle makes the playoffs. The Seahawks are already in the playoffs, so Lawrence needed just two sacks to unlock this incentive, but didn’t register any against San Francisco. Seahawks EDGE Uchenna Nwosu needed two sacks to collect $250,000 in incentives, but finished with one. 49ers WR Jauan Jennings earned a $2.4 million playing-time incentive on Saturday night.
MORE: Meet Sam Darnold’s family tree, including Olympian grandpa Dick Hammer
Sunday, Jan. 4
1:00 p.m.: Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Titans RB Tony Pollard needed 66 rushing yards to hit 1,100 on the year, which would’ve given him an extra $250,000. Pollard also needed two rushing touchdowns to get seven this season and a $200,000 incentive. However, Pollard failed to reach either milestone.Jaguars DL Arik Armstead could have earned a $1 million incentive for collecting 1.5 sacks against the Titans, which would’ve given him eight on the season. However, Armstead didn’t record a sack in the game.
1:00 p.m.: Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints
Saints DL Nathan Shepherd needed 0.5 sacks to hit 3.5 on the season and give him a $250,000 incentive, but he didn’t get a sack in the game.
1:00 p.m.: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Vikings DL Jonathan Allen didn’t earn an extra $250,000 as he couldn’t collect 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 recorded just seven receiving yards for 400 on the year, earning 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. However, Bosa is inactive for the game to prepare for the playoffs, ending his regular season.Jets K Nick Folk would get $125,000 for making two field goals against the Bills
4:25 p.m.: New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
Patriots WR Stefon Diggs can earn up to $1 million with his performance on Sunday. Diggs would earn earn $500,000 for catching eight passes to get to 90 on the year, and he could get another $500,000 for producing 30 receiving yards to get to 1,000 this season.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.Chiefs WR Marquise Brown can earn up to $375,000 on Sunday, as one touchdown would give him a $250,000 incentive for six on the year, and 102 receiving yards would give him a $125,000 incentive for 625 this season.Â
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.
4:25 p.m.: Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers WR Keenan Allen needs six catches to reach 80 on the season and make an extra $750,000.
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 tracker
*Bold indicates the incentive was earned*
TeamPlayerNeedsTo earnPanthersRico Dowdle7 scrimmage yards$1 millionSeahawksSam Darnold3 passing touchdowns$500,000SeahawksSam Darnold150 passing yards$500,000SeahawksDeMarcus Lawrence2 sacks$500,000TitansTony Pollard66 rushing yards$250,000TitansTony Pollard2 rushing touchdowns$200,000JaguarsArik 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$100,000JetsNick Folk2 field goals made$125,000PatriotsStefon Diggs8 catches$500,000PatriotsStefon Diggs30 receiving yards$500,000PatriotsHunter Henry5 catches$250,000ChiefsGeorge Karlaftis2 sacks$250,000ChiefsMarquise Brown1 receiving touchdown$250,000ChiefsMarquise Brown102 receiving yards$125,000CardinalsCalais Campbell1 sack$500,000ChargersKeenan Allen6 catches$750,000SteelersAaron Rodgers1 win$500,000