Zak Koeppel – Researcher
As we approach the final week of the regular season, playoff positioning might be driving headlines — but the stakes are extra spicy for some players at an individual level.
Think back to the last week of the 2021 season, when, despite his Bucs being up two touchdowns and locked into a playoff seed, Tom Brady stayed on the field until he’d helped Rob Gronkowski secure $1 million in contract incentives.
Yes, Week 18 represents the last chance of the 2025 regular season for players to reach production benchmarks that trigger extra pay in the form of incentives. Who might be in position to pick up a little more dough before Sunday draws to a close?
Below are 15 notable players who are within striking distance of earning a contract incentive this weekend.
(NOTE: All contract incentive details in this article were sourced from Spotrac.)
Seattle Seahawks · QBAT
12-4
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $500,000 for 4,000 pass yards
- STILL NEEDS: 150 pass yards
Darnold has 150 or more pass yards in 14 of his 16 games this season, but was held to 147 in Week 17 vs. the Panthers. The 49ers have allowed 15 of 16 opposing starting quarterbacks to pass for at least 150 yards this season. The lone exception, rookie Shedeur Sanders, finished 1 yard short of the mark in Week 13.
Tennessee Titans · RBAT
12-4
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $250,000 for 1,100 rush yards
- STILL NEEDS: 66 rush yards
Pollard is averaging 113 rush yards over his previous four games, eclipsing the 80-yard mark in each. But only one running back has had 66 or more rush yards in a game against the Jaguars this season: Jonathan Taylor, who did it twice (Weeks 14 and 17).
Carolina Panthers · RBAT
7-9
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $1 million for 1,350 scrimmage yards
- STILL NEEDS: 7 scrimmage yards
If all goes well for Dowdle on Saturday, he’ll check this box on the Panthers’ opening possession. The veteran back has produced 7 or more scrimmage yards on Carolina’s first drive in seven of his previous eight games. That said, the Bucs held Dowdle to just 43 scrimmage yards when these teams met in Week 16, which was his lowest total in any of his 10 starts this year.
Washington Commanders · WRAT
11-5
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $200,000 for 800 receiving yards
- STILL NEEDS: 93 receiving yards
Samuel has recorded 93 or more receiving yards in only one game this season — against the Chargers in Week 5. The Eagles, meanwhile, have allowed 93 or more receiving yards to nine different players through 16 games (tied for the fourth most), including 101 to the Bills’ Brandin Cooks in Week 17.
Buffalo Bills · WRVS.
3-13
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $150,000 2026 salary escalator for 5 receiving touchdowns
- STILL NEEDS: 1 receiving touchdown
The fourth-year wideout has yet to reach five touchdowns in a single season thus far as a pro. He’s currently sporting four, though, which matches his career high. The Jets, on the other hand, just allowed five different Patriot players to haul in a receiving score in Week 17.
New England Patriots · TEVS.
7-9
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $250,000 for 60 receptions
- STILL NEEDS: 5 receptions
Henry has five catches or more in just three of the 16 games he’s played in this season, though one of those performances occurred just two weeks ago (Week 16 vs. Ravens). Fortunately for the veteran, he has a favorable, and familiar, matchup this weekend, presuming he is able to take the field despite missing practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. The Dolphins have allowed the third-most receptions to tight ends this year (101).
Buffalo Bills · TEVS.
3-13
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $100,000 for 400 receiving yards
- STILL NEEDS: 7 receiving yards
The longtime Bills tight end has 10 or more receiving yards in 14 of the 16 games he’s played in this season, including 19 yards on two catches against the Jets in Week 2. New York allowed two Patriots tight ends (Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper) to reach double-digit receiving yards last week.
Seattle Seahawks · LBAT
12-4
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $500,000 for 8 sacks and a playoff berth
- STILL NEEDS: 2 sacks
Seattle clinched a playoff berth in Week 16, so that box has already been checked. As for the second part of the incentive, Lawrence has registered two or more sacks in a game only once this season (Week 6 vs. the Jaguars). Meanwhile, Brock Purdy is averaging only one sack taken per game in 2025, which is tied for the lowest rate among all qualified quarterbacks.
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Washington Commanders · LBAT
11-5
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $500,000 for 9 sacks.
- STILL NEEDS: 1 sack.
The eight-time Pro Bowler has recorded at least one sack in three of his previous four games. The one blank during that span: vs. Philadelphia in Week 16. Jalen Hurts has been a hard man to bring down during the second half of the season, with the reigning Super Bowl MVP taking just 0.9 sacks per game since Week 10 — the fewest in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs · DEAT
2-14
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $250,000 for 8 sacks
- STILL NEEDS: 2 sacks
Karlaftis has just two career games with two or more sacks — and neither occurred this season. However, no team has given up more sacks this year than the Raiders (61), who could be starting either QB2 Kenny Pickett or QB3 Aidan O’Connell on Sunday.
Buffalo Bills · DEVS.
3-13
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $250,000 for 6 sacks
- STILL NEEDS: 1 sack
The five-time Pro Bowler has been in a bit of a sack slump of late, recording only one QB takedown over his previous seven games. But he faces a favorable matchup on Sunday in a Jets team that ranks second in the league in sacks allowed (59).
Jacksonville Jaguars · DTVS.
3-13
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $1 million for 7.0 sacks
- STILL NEEDS: 1.5 sacks
Armstead hasn’t recorded 1.5 sacks or more in a game in more than two years (Week 8, 2023) — back when he was a member of the 49ers. A big game against rookie Cam Ward, who’s tied for the league lead in sacks taken (55), could not only net the veteran a nice payday, but it could contribute to the Jaguars clinching their first AFC South title since 2022.
New Orleans Saints · DT
7-9
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $250,000 for 3.5 sacks
- STILL NEEDS: 0.5 sacks
Shepherd’s three sacks in 2025 have all come since Week 8. But the Falcons have taken just 22 sacks this season, which is tied for the second fewest in the NFL.
Arizona Cardinals · DLAT
11-5
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $500,000 for 7.5 sacks
- STILL NEEDS: 1 sack
The 18th-year pro hasn’t had seven or more sacks in a season since 2018 (10.5), but he did just bring down Joe Burrow last Sunday in Cincinnati. This week, he’ll face off against another top-tier passer in Matthew Stafford, who was sacked three times by the Falcons on Monday night (tied for his season high).
Minnesota Vikings · DLVS.
9-6-1
- INCENTIVE AT STAKE: $250,000 2026 salary escalator for 5 sacks
- STILL NEEDS: 1.5 sacks
Allen has seven career games with 1.5 or more sacks, but none this season. Packers quarterbacks have taken just 25 sacks on the year, which is tied for the sixth fewest in the NFL.
