- A dozen players have big incentives and bonuses on the line in Week 18
- Derrick Henry will earn a $500k bonus with just one more touchdown
- Below, see the full list of NFL player incentives and props to target in Week 18
Just one week remains in the NFL regular season and a dozen different players have money on the line in Week 18 thanks to performance incentives. The table below lists those players in alphabetical order, along with the dollar value of their incentive, their incentive target(s), and what they need to do in Week 18 to claim their bonus(es).
NFL Player Bonuses on the Line in Week 18
| Player (Team) | Incentive | Target | Current Status (Needs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker Mayfield (TB) | $500k each | Top-10 in (a) passer rating, (b) passing yards, (c) TD passes, (d) completion %, (e) YPA | (a) 4th, (b) 3rd, (c) 2nd, (d) 2nd, (e) 7th |
| Courtland Sutton (DEN) | $500k | 1,065 receiving yards | 983 yards (82 yards) |
| DeAndre Hopkins (KC) | $25ok each | (a) 65 catches, (b) 750 receiving yards | (a) 56 catches (9 catches), (b) 610 yards (140 yards) |
| Derrick Henry (BAL) | $500k | 15 TDs | 14 TDs (1 TD) |
| Geno Smith (SEA) | $2m each | (a) 4,283 passing yards, (b) 69.76 completion %, (c) 10 wins | (a) 4,097 yards (186 yards), (b) 70.2% (-0.44%), (c) 9 wins (beat Rams) |
| JK Dobbins (LAC) | $150k | 900 rushing yards | 842 yards (58 yards) |
| Josh Sweat (PHI) | $250k | 10 sacks | 8 sacks (2 sacks) |
| Mike Evans (TB) | $3m | (a) 1,000 receiving yards AND (b) 70 catches | (a) 915 yards (85 yards), (b) 65 catches (5 catches) |
| Tony Pollard (TEN) | $250k/200k | (a) 1,100 rushing yards, (b) 7 TDs | (a) 1,017 yards (83 yards), (b) 5 TDs (2 TDs) |
| Von Miller (DEN) | $1.5m | 6 sacks | 5 sacks (1 sack) |
| Zach Ertz (WSH) | $25ok each | (a) 70 catches, (b) 700 rec. yards, (c) 8 TDs | (a) 61 catches (9 catches), (b) 610 yards (90 yards), (c) 6 TDs (2 TDs) |
| Za’Darius Smith (DET) | $25ok | 10 sacks | 8 sacks (2 sacks) |
“Current Status” means as of the end of Week 17. Check out SBD’s NFL player props page to see where to find the best lines on every player’s O/Us in Week 18.
Derrick Henry Only Needs One Touchdown
The simplest incentive on the board is Derrick Henry, who needs just one more touchdown to land a bonus of $500,000. Henry already earned his first $500k by hitting 13 TDs back in Week 11. At that point, it seemed like an absolute lock that he would get to 15 barring injury. After all, he’d scored at least one touchdown in ten of Baltimore’s first 11 games.
But then he was held touchdown-less in four straight before finally finding the end zone again in Week 17 against Houston.
In Week 18, Henry’s Ravens host the division-trailing Browns (3-13), needing a victory to secure the AFC East title. It’s likely we see a decent-sized dose of Henry in the first half as the Ravens remove any doubt about the final outcome.
Sack Incentives in Week 18: Josh Sweat, Von Miller, Za’Darius Smith
A trio of edge rushers are within two sacks of lacking sizable bonuses. The closest is Denver’s Von Miller, who only needs one more QB takedown to his his target of six sacks, which would land the 14-year pro an extra $1.5 million. Miller’s Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, who are likely to start Carson Wentz in place of Patrick Mahomes, given that they have already wrapped up the #1 seed in the AFC.
The other two, Philadelphia’s Josh Sweat and Detroit’s Za’Darius Smith, have a tougher task, and have less to gain. Both are two sacks away from earning a $250k bonus.
Sweat’s Eagles host the lowly Giants in Week 18 and have nothing to play for. They have already own the NFC East and cannot catch the Vikings/Lions for the #1 seed in the NFC. It’s possible that Sweat either doesn’t play or plays limited snaps.
Smith, on the other hand, will be involved in the game of the season between his 14-2 Lions and the 14-2 Vikings, where the winner will claim not just the NFC North title but also the #1 seed and lone bye in the NFC.
Week 18 QB Incentives: Mayfield, Smith
The two quarterbacks with major incentives on the line in Week 18 are Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield and Seattle’s Geno Smith.
Mayfield’s incentives are tied to finishing top-ten in the NFL (or top-five in the NFC) in five different statistical categories, and he’s on track to get all five as things currently stand. With Mayfield’s Bucs need a win over the Saints to secure first-place in the NFC South and, with it, a playoff berth. It’s unlikely Mayfield’s incentives will be a factor in how he approaches this must-win game.
The same can’t be said for Smith. The Seattle pivot is just 186 yards away from a $2 million bonus for hitting 4,097 yards. He also needs to maintain a completion percentage of 69.76% or better to land another $2 million, and he’s perilously close to dropping below that number at 70.2%. Lastly, Smith could earn another $2 million by getting his Seahawks to 10 wins with a victory over the division-rival Rams.
Unfortunately for Smith, most of his teammates won’t share his motivation to pick up the W. The Rams clinched the NFC West last week, eliminating Seattle from playoff contention.
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As the NFL regular season comes to a close with the addition of a Week 18 for the first time ever, several players have bonuses at stake based on incentives and prop totals. These bonuses can range from additional money in their contracts to accolades such as Pro Bowl selections or All-Pro honors. Let’s take a look at some of the players who have something extra to play for in the final week of the regular season.
One player who has a significant bonus at stake is Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow has an incentive in his contract that will pay him an additional $500,000 if he finishes the season with a completion percentage of 70% or higher. Currently, Burrow is sitting at a completion percentage of 69.6%, so he will need a strong performance in Week 18 to reach that threshold and secure the bonus.
Another player with a bonus on the line is Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Kupp has already had a phenomenal season, leading the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He also has a bonus in his contract that will pay him an additional $250,000 if he finishes the season as the league leader in receiving yards. Kupp currently has a comfortable lead in that category, but he will need to maintain his position in Week 18 to secure the bonus.
On the defensive side of the ball, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has a bonus at stake based on his sack total for the season. Watt has a clause in his contract that will pay him an additional $1 million if he reaches 20 sacks on the season. He currently sits at 18.5 sacks, so he will need a strong performance in Week 18 to reach that milestone and earn the bonus.
These are just a few examples of players who have bonuses at stake in Week 18 based on incentives and prop totals. As teams jockey for playoff positioning and players strive to reach personal milestones, the final week of the regular season promises to be full of excitement and intrigue for fans and players alike.