10 NFL players playing for incentives in Week 18 feat. Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans

In the last week of the NFL regular season, some teams want to secure a postseason berth, while a number of others are vying for a higher seed. From wide receivers striving for yardage landmarks to certain linebackers pursuing sack incentives, many individual players are also vying for performance bonuses in Week 18.

Before the regular season concludes, let's examine which players stand to benefit the most from performance-based incentives this week.

Players looking to earn incentives in Week 18

1) QB Geno Smith - Seattle Seahawks

Geno Smith will have plenty of reasons to play when his Seattle Seahawks face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. Even though the Seahawks are out of the running for the postseason, their star quarterback will compete on Sunday for personal benefits.

His contract's bonuses, some of which are up for grabs with one game remaining, are contingent on his season passing yards, completion percentage, touchdown passes, passer rating and team victories.

If he throws for at least 185 yards against the Rams, he will receive a $2 million incentive. This bonus is based on his career-high total of 4,282 yards, which he would surpass with that total on Sunday.

If Smith finishes the 2024 season with a completion rate of more than 69.755 percent, he will get an additional $2 million in incentives. That shouldn't be a difficult task as he has a completion rate of 70.2%.

If the Seahawks win 10 games this season, Smith will earn an additional $2 million. They must beat the Rams on Sunday to pass their current nine-win total.

2) QB Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield will be hoping to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the NFC South in Week 18 with a win over the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. The quarterback will also have his sights set on netting $2.5 million in bonuses, which will be determined by his final regular-season rankings in some stat categories.

According to his contract, he will receive $500,000 if he finishes in the top five in the NFC or the top 10 in the NFL in each of these categories: yards per attempt (currently fifth), completion percentage (currently second), passing yards (currently second), passing touchdowns (currently second) and passer rating (currently fourth).

3) WR Mike Evans - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Evans is eligible to receive bonuses of up to $3.66 million this week. He only needs to catch five passes and get 85 receiving yards for his season total to reach 70 receptions and 1,000 yards.

If Evans scores two receiving touchdowns to bring his season total to 10, he will also be entitled to an extra $666,000 in incentives.

4) RB Tony Pollard - Tennessee Titans

Despite dealing with a number of injury concerns this season, Tony Pollard has only missed one game, which was last week's Week 17 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Although Pollard's status for Week 18 is still up in the air, he will be hoping to get performance-based incentives if he plays on Sunday against the Houston Texans.

If the star running back reaches 1,100 rushing yards, he will earn $250,000. He will also earn $200,000 if he scores seven rushing touchdowns and another $200,000 if he records 60 receptions. At the moment, he has 41 receptions for five touchdowns and 1,017 yards.

5) RB J.K. Dobbins - Los Angeles Chargers

J.K. Dobbins' contract with the Los Angeles Chargers includes specific performance-based incentives. If he meets each of the following season goals, he will get $150,000: 600, 750, 900, 1,050 and 1,200 yards rushing.

With 842 rushing yards on the season, he has already received $300,000 in bonuses. If he gains 58 yards on the ground to achieve 900 yards for the season, he will increase his earnings by an additional $150,000.

6) WR Courtland Sutton - Denver Broncos

Courtland Sutton has emerged as QB Bo Nix's top target in the Denver Broncos offense this season. However, to reach 1,065 yards in the air this season, the receiver will need to gain up to 82 receiving yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. This will help him to get a bonus check of $500,000 as part of his agreement's bonuses.

7) WR DeAndre Hopkins - Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have nothing to play for in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos, but if wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins plays well on Sunday, he could potentially receive $1 million in bonuses.

Nine more receptions this week would earn the former Tennessee Titans wide receiver, who has 56 this season, a $250,000 catch bonus. To reach 750 yards for the season and receive an additional $250,000 bonus, he also needs to reach 140 receiving yards against Denver.

Hopkins will receive an additional $500,000 incentive for getting six receiving touchdowns this season if he also scores a receiving touchdown in the regular-season finale.

8) EDGE Josh Sweat - Philadelphia Eagles

Josh Sweat has eight sacks, but he needs to get 10 to receive a $250,000 bonus. If the 27-year-old LB gets 11 sacks this season, that bonus would increase to $1.5 million. If he has 12 sacks, it would increase to $2 million.

9) EDGE Za'Darius Smith - Detroit Lions

Za'Darius Smith has eight sacks this season, just like Josh Sweat. If he can get two more sacks against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, bringing his total to 10, he will receive $250,000 in bonuses.

10) EDGE Von Miller - Buffalo Bills

Von Miller has already received $2.5 million in bonuses for his five sacks this campaign, but if he succeeds in collecting a further two against the New England Patriots in Week 18, he will receive an additional $1.5 million.