Player Contract Incentives to Watch in the final week of the 2024 NFL regular season

Drew Smith
January 4, 2025
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Contract Incentives – We’ve made it to the final week of the 2024 NFL regular season. Most of the playoff drama is settled, with only a few seeds left up for grabs but while teams like the Eagles, Lions, and Chiefs are already locked into postseason plans, there’s still plenty on the line for individual players.

Contract incentives are turning this otherwise sleepy Week 18 into a potential goldmine for a handful of players. Now, I’ll admit, I don’t have a clue if these bets hit in real-time, but it doesn’t hurt to take a closer look at these situations before kickoff.

Here’s a breakdown of some key incentives players are chasing and why they might matter this weekend:

Mike Evans: $3 Million Up for Grabs

Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans has been a model of consistency throughout his Hall of Fame-worthy career, and this season is no different. While the Bucs are still scrapping for a playoff spot, Evans is chasing:

5 catches and 85 yards = $3 million bonus.

For a guy who eats defenses for breakfast, this feels like an attainable goal, especially with Tampa needing a win against the Falcons to secure a wild-card berth.

Tony Pollard: 82 Yards, $250K

The Tennessee Titans’ season may be over, but Tony Pollard isn’t finished running. He needs just 82 rushing yards to tack an extra $250K onto his paycheck. Pollard’s been a bright spot in Tennessee’s offense, and with nothing to lose, don’t be surprised if they feed him the ball early and often against the Colts.

DeAndre Hopkins: One TD, $500K

Hopkins has been a red-zone machine for the Chiefs this season. All he needs is one more touchdown to lock in a cool $500K bonus.
Kansas City’s starters might rest against the Broncos, but if Hopkins gets a chance to suit up, you know Patrick Mahomes will want to help his guy cash in.

Geno Smith: The $6 Million Jackpot

Geno Smith may have missed the playoffs with the Seahawks, but Week 18 could still be a massive payday for the comeback king. Smith’s contract incentives include:

186 passing yards = $2 million.
70% completion rate (currently at 69.55%) = $2 million.
10 wins for Seattle (if they beat the Rams) = $2 million.

Even if the Seahawks have nothing to play for as a team, you better believe Geno will be airing it out for those extra dollars.

NFL Week 18 Contract Incentives:

Betting on individual contract incentives is risky business. I’m not sure the history of these bets actually hitting but I do know they pop up every year so we might as well take an extra look and see what we can use to our betting advantage, right?

In Week 18, when teams are resting starters or giving players one last shot to prove themselves, these scenarios deserve some attention. If nothing else, they add an extra layer of excitement to a week filled with backups and glorified preseason vibes.

If you’re tuning in Sunday, keep an eye on these guys chasing the bag. Who knows? You might just witness some history — or at least a player securing his life-changing bonus.