NFL Week 18 Incentives Guide: 10 Players With Money on the Line

Some NFL players will have added financial motives when they take the field this weekend.

Notable names from around the league have a final chance to reach certain contract incentives and turn them into lucrative bonuses when the regular season concludes in Week 18. Some quarterbacks will cash in if they lead their team to the playoffs, while other skill players or defenders are chasing statistical milestones.

Here's a look at the incentives within reach for 10 players this weekend. And, as a note, all of the performance incentives mentioned were pulled from Spotrac, which monitors sports contracts.

Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The first-year Bucs signal-caller's contract includes a clause that doubles a key incentive if the team makes the playoffs. Mayfield entered the season with playing-time bonuses topping out at $1 million for playing more than 85 percent of the team's offensive snaps (he is above 99 percent). That will become $2 million if the Buccaneers earn a playoff berth on Sunday.

Tampa Bay clinches the NFC South with a win over the NFL-worst Carolina Panthers on Sunday, though would also wrap up the division with a tie and New Orleans Saints loss or tie against the Atlanta Falcons. In a more chaotic scenario, the Bucs also move onto the postseason with a tie, plus a Seattle Seahawks loss and Green Bay Packers loss or tie.

Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

Love can wrap up his first regular season as Green Bay's starter on a financial high note. If the Packers advance to the postseason, their 25-year-old quarterback nets a $500,000 bonus (which is also tied to playing more than 65 percent of the team's offensive snaps this season).

Green Bay is in with a win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, though there are five other scenarios that would also get the Packers back to the playoffs.

Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Yet another quarterback will get a little richer by leaving Week 18 with a playoff ticket.

Smith will earn a $2 million bonus if the Seahawks advance to the playoffs, according to The Seattle Times. Seattle will solidify itself in the final playoff picture if one of three possible scenarios go its way—the most straightforward of which includes a win against the Arizona Cardinals and a Packers loss or tie against the Bears.

Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Ekeler missed three games early in the season, though still enters Week 18 with 1,015 yards from scrimmage. An additional 110 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday would activate a $100,000 incentive for the dual-threat Chargers running back.

Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings running back needs 74 yards on the ground in Week 18 in return for a $250,000 prize. Mattison earns that financial incentive by hitting the 750-rushing-yard milestone on the season. The 25-year-old will have to do so against a Detroit Lions defense that ranks in the top five across the league in both rushing yards and yards per attempt allowed this season.

Devin Singletary, RB, Houston Texans

The Texans are battling for a playoff spot against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night, and a big night out of Singletary may help them get there. It would also be a lucrative accomplishment for Houston's top running back. The veteran sits at 835 rushing yards heading into the finale, and 165 more would turn into $125,000. Singletary earns that much for crossing 1,000 rushing yards, and an additional $125,000 for hitting 1,100.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee doesn't have anything to play for from a playoff perspective this weekend. But its top pass-catching target has about a million reasons to be at his best against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hopkins needs 39 receiving yards to hit 1,050 on the season and unlock a $1 million bonus. Plus, seven more catches would mean $500,000, and two touchdown grabs would result in $750,000.

Chris Jones, DL, Kansas City Chiefs

Jones' playing status for Week 18 will determine whether he gets a chance to earn an attractive pay bonus. The Chiefs are resting Patrick Mahomes against the Los Angeles Chargers, and could do the same with other starters since their playoff spot is locked in. If Jones does play, he can take advantage of a sack incentive in the restricted contract he agreed on with the team at the start of the season. The Pro Bowler is half a sack away from 10 on the season, a mark that would earn $1.25 million.

Jadeveon Clowney, DE/OLB, Baltimore Ravens

Another AFC defender who can financially benefit by taking an opposing quarterback down one more time in Week 18 is Clowney. The veteran pass-rusher has a $1.75 million incentive in his contract for hitting nine sacks on the season. Clowney sits at 8.5 going into the regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens have already locked up the top seed and are resting several players against the Steelers, so how many snaps Clowney actually gets to go after this milestone is something to monitor.

Bonus: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Baltimore Ravens

Speaking of the Ravens sitting players, Beckham will rest in Week 18 rather than play against the Steelers. And the wide receiver will miss out on some money because of it. Beckham needed five catches, 185 yards and/or two touchdowns for bonuses of $500,000, $750,000 and $500,000, respectively.