The final weekend of the NFL regular season isn’t just about playoff seeding and division titles. For dozens of players across the league, Week 18 represents the last chance to hit contract incentives worth millions of dollars.
From quarterbacks chasing yardage bonuses to pass rushers hunting sacks, here’s a comprehensive look at the players with the most money on the line this weekend.
Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks — Up to $2 Million
Darnold has the most money on the line of any player in Week 18. The Seahawks quarterback can earn $500,000 each for hitting four separate benchmarks against the 49ers on Saturday night:
- 4,000 passing yards — Currently at 3,850 (needs 150 yards)
- 28 passing touchdowns — Currently at 25 (needs 3 TDs)
- 67.5% completion percentage — Currently at 67.2% (needs slight improvement)
- 100.0 passer rating — Currently at 99.2 (needs at least 112.8 in Week 18)
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Darnold. Beyond the $2 million in potential bonuses, this game will determine the NFC West title and the conference’s No. 1 seed. He’s already earned $500,000 for the Seahawks’ clinching a playoff berth.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers — Up to $1.25 Million
Dowdle’s incentives might be the easiest money in the NFL this weekend. The Panthers running back needs just seven scrimmage yards to trigger a $1 million bonus for reaching 1,350 yards on the season. He currently sits at 1,343.
Add one touchdown, and Dowdle collects another $250,000 for reaching eight total touchdowns (he has seven). Against the Buccaneers in a game that will decide the NFC South, expect Carolina to feed their bell-cow back early and often.
Bradley Chubb, EDGE, Miami Dolphins — Up to $3 Million (Conditional)
Chubb has already hit the individual statistical marks for several major incentives, but there’s a catch: they’re all contingent on the Dolphins finishing in the top 20 in points allowed.
Miami currently ranks 21st in that category with 386 points allowed, just two behind the Falcons at 384. If the Dolphins can improve that ranking while beating the Patriots, Chubb would unlock:
- $2.125 million for 8 sacks + top 20 points allowed
- $900,000 for 11 sacks + top 20 points allowed (though he has 8.5)
Several other Dolphins players, including cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu and offensive lineman Larry Borom, also have incentives tied to team defensive and offensive rankings.
Von Miller, EDGE, Washington Commanders — $500,000
The eight-time Pro Bowler is one sack away from a $500,000 bonus. Miller has eight sacks on the season and needs nine to hit the incentive threshold in his one-year, $6.1 million deal with Washington.
The 36-year-old has been productive down the stretch, recording at least one sack in three of his last four games. He’ll face the Eagles, and while Jalen Hurts has been difficult to bring down lately, Philadelphia has allowed 32 sacks this season.
Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots — Up to $1 Million
Diggs already earned $500,000 last week. Now he needs just 30 yards on Sunday to reach 1,000 for the season, a mark that would lock in a $500,000 contract incentive.
Kendrick Bourne, WR, San Francisco 49ers — Up to $750,000
Bourne earned $500,000 last week for surpassing 500 receiving yards. Against the Seahawks, he can add:
- $250,000 for 600 receiving yards (currently at 551, needs 49)
- $500,000 for 45 receptions (currently at 37, needs 8)
MORE: 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Dante Moore Spells Geno Smith, Carnell Tate Blesses Big Apple
The eight-catch bonus is a long shot, but the yardage incentive is realistic if Brock Purdy spreads the ball around against Seattle’s secondary.
Sterling Shepard, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Up to $250,000
The veteran receiver is tantalizingly close to two bonuses in the Bucs’ must-win game against Carolina:
- $125,000 for 40 receptions (currently at 39, needs 1)
- $125,000 for 400 receiving yards (currently at 371, needs 29)
One catch and 29 yards could net Shepard a quarter-million dollars. If Tampa Bay is in a comfortable lead late, don’t be surprised to see Baker Mayfield look Shepard’s way.
Van Jefferson, WR, Tennessee Titans — $100,000
Jefferson needs just one reception to earn $100,000 for reaching 30 catches on the season. He has at least one catch in 11 straight games, making this one of the safer bets on the board.
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans — Up to $450,000
Pollard has been rolling lately, posting four straight games with at least 85 rushing yards. He can cash in on two incentives against Jacksonville:
- $250,000 for 1,100 rushing yards (currently at 1,034, needs 66)
- $200,000 for seven rushing touchdowns (currently at five, needs two)
The yardage bonus seems achievable, though the Jaguars allow the fewest rushing yards per game in the NFL (86.1). Two touchdowns is a taller order.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles — $250,000 (In Jeopardy)
Barkley needs just 87 scrimmage yards to hit his 1,500-yard incentive, but there’s a problem: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has announced the team will rest starters in Week 18. If Barkley doesn’t play against the Commanders, he’ll miss out on the bonus–though Philadelphia could adjust the contract terms, as they did last year with Josh Sweat’s sack incentive.
Nick Chubb, RB, Houston Texans — $250,000
Chubb needs 94 rushing yards to earn a $600-yard bonus against the Colts. It’s a big ask for a player who’s averaging 56 yards per game, but the Texans may lean on the run if they clinch the AFC South early.
Joey Bosa, EDGE, Buffalo Bills — Up to $750,000
Now with Buffalo after being traded from the Chargers, Bosa has stacked incentives on the line:
- $250,000 for six sacks (currently at 5, needs 1)
- $500,000 for eight sacks (currently at 5, needs 3)
One sack is realistic against the Jets; three would require a dominant performance.
Arik Armstead, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars — $1 Million
Armstead needs 1.5 sacks against the Titans to earn a $1 million bonus for reaching seven sacks. It’s a tough ask, but Tennessee has allowed 44 sacks this season.
K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, New England Patriots — $500,000
Chaisson is half a sack away from a $500,000 bonus. He has 6.5 sacks and needs to reach seven against Miami.
Dre’Mont Jones, DL, Baltimore Ravens — $250,000
Jones needs two sacks against the Steelers to reach nine and trigger a $250,000 bonus. In a winner-take-all game for the AFC North, every play matters.
Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots — $250,000
Henry already earned $250,000 last week for 55 receptions. Now he needs five more catches to earn another $250,000 for reaching 60 against the Dolphins.
Dawson Knox, TE, Buffalo Bills — Up to $300,000
Knox has three separate $100,000 incentives within reach:
- 40 receptions (currently at 29, needs 11) — unlikely
- 400 receiving yards (currently at 363, needs 37)
- 4 touchdowns (currently at 3, needs 1)
The yardage and touchdown bonuses are realistic in what could be the final game at Highmark Stadium.
Marquise Brown, WR, Kansas City Chiefs — Up to $625,000
Brown has had a down year, but can salvage some bonus money in the regular season finale:
- $250,000 for 6 TDs (currently at 5, needs 1)
- $250,000 for 7 TDs (currently at 5, needs 2)
- $125,000 for 625 receiving yards (currently at 523, needs 102)
Without Patrick Mahomes, Brown will have to rely on backup Chris Oladokun to find him in the end zone.
