One of the most fascinating storylines to track in Week 18 of the NFL season is the bonus incentive situation for individual players across the league.
Player incentives will be earned or missed on Sunday (or Saturday, for those who finished their season then), as a host of players learn if they will be getting lucrative checks based on their statistical performances.
This mostly applies to quarterbacks, skill position players and those that rush the quarterback, as their stats are most easily quantified and tracked, but they're not the only players with bonuses in play.
Read on for our NFL player incentive tracker for Week 18 to stay up to date on which players met their necessary bonus targets.
NFL Player Incentive Tracker
Chiefs WR Juju Smith-Schuster
Incentive: Smith-Schuster was in line to earn an extra $500,000 if he netted two receiving yards on Saturday. He was also 102 yards shy of 1,000 yards on the year.
Outcome: The receiver posted 35 receiving yards on two catches against the Raiders to meet his incentive.
Jaguars WR Zay Jones
Incentive: Jones stood to make $250,000 if he got to 80 receptions and $500,000 if he gets to 900 yards in Saturday's game against the Titans. He was two receptions and 98 yards short.
Outcome: Jones was able to meet his receptions target with four grabs, but 21 yards did not earn him an extra $500k.
Jaguars WR Christian Kirk
Incentive: Christian Kirk was two catches short of a $500,000 incentive and needed 91 yards for another $500,000 heading into Saturday.
Outcome: Kirk was able to complete both of these incentives with six catches and 99 yards.
Vikings LB Za'Darius Smith
Incentive: Smith needs a half sack in order to net a $750,000 bonus. He’s already earned a $500,000 incentive for reaching 8.5 sacks.
If Smith nabs 2.5 sacks on Sunday? That would mean an extra $1 million on top of the $750,000.
Outcome: Smith was inactive for the game, and thus he did not record any sacks.
Vikings CB Patrick Peterson
Incentive: Peterson will earn an extra $330,000 as long as he steps onto the field on Sunday. That’s as part of an incentive ladder that requires him to play at least 75% of the defensive snaps and is dependent on the Vikings’ season result.
His $330,000 bonus is because the Vikings qualified for the playoffs. That figure jumps to $666,000 if Minnesota wins a divisional round game and it reaches $1 million with a Vikings Super Bowl appearance.
Outcome: Peterson played and recorded an interception in the Vikings' win over the Bears.
Saints QB Andy Dalton
Incentive: Dalton earns $500,000 if he plays 50% of the snaps and another $500,000 for reaching the 60% mark this season. He’s currently played 68.15% of the Saints' snaps under center, so playing just one series on Sunday will get him there.
Outcome: Dalton started at quarterback for the Saints and completed the full game as New Orleans fell to Carolina, 10-7.
Bengals TE Hayden Hurst
Incentive: Hurst can earn another $125,000 for two catches and an additional $125,000 for 100 receiving yards in a game that suddenly has playoff implications against the Ravens.
Outcome: Hurst got his second reception in the first quarter of the Bengals' game against the Ravens.
Hayden Hurst knew he just hit his $125K incentive for reaching 50 receptions 💰 pic.twitter.com/vB1wgdcSJ0
— Action Network NFL (@ActionNetNFL) January 8, 2023
Bengals RB Samaje Perine
Incentive: Perine can earn another $100,000 if he rushes for 124 yards on Sunday.
Outcome: The Bengals' running back only amassed 18 rushing yards on the day.
Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie
Incentive: McKenzie can make an extra $100,000 with 46 yards receiving on Sunday. He’ll need 10 more receptions for an additional $100,000.
Outcome: McKenzie only hauled in two catches for 18 yards in the Bills' victory over the Patriots.
Bills Safety Jordan Poyer
Incentive: Poyer needs two more interceptions for a $750,000 incentive. A pick-six or fumble recovery against the Patriots would also net him $250,000.
Outcome: Power was not able to snag any interceptions in the contest, nor did he recover a fumble.
Ravens LB Justin Houston
Incentive: Houston needs one more sack to earn $1.5 million. He’s already earned $500,000 for five sacks and $1 million for 7.5 sacks on the year.
Outcome: Per the official statistics, Houston recorded a half of a sack, meaning he came up 0.5 sacks shy of this incentive. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Ravens – and perhaps others – honor incentives like these.
Jets DE Carl Lawson
Incentive: Lawson has a looming $600,000 bonus with another sack against the Dolphins.
Outcome: Lawson did not record a sack against the Dolphins.
Jets K Greg Zuerlein
Incentive: If Big Leg Greg sinks all of his field goals on Sunday, he might grab a $250,000 incentive. He’s 84% on the year and needs to reach 85% for that aforementioned bonus.
Outcome: Zuerlein was only able to convert on 2-of-3 kicks against the Dolphins, meaning he came up short of that 85% target.
49ers WR Deebo Samuel
Incentive: Samuel looks unlikely to suit up for Sunday’s game, but if he does, he’d need 152 rushing yards in order to net a $500,000 incentive. He already received an extra $150,000 for scoring three rushing touchdowns.
Outcome: Samuel did play for the 49ers, but he only recorded four yards on the day.
Cardinals K Matt Prater
Incentive: Prater will earn an extra $250,000 if he finishes the season with at least an 83% field goal percentage. He’s 18-for-20 for a 90% clip before Week 18. He would need to go 0-for-2 or 1-for-3 (or worse) to give up this bonus.
Outcome: Prater did not attempt a kick on the day, so he met this incentive metric.
Commanders QB Taylor Heinicke
Incentive: Heinicke would earn $125,000 with a win against the Cowboys on Sunday, which would also spoil Dallas’ pursuit for the NFC East title and the No. 1 seed. The unheralded former XFL quarterback has had this incentive all season and has netted $625,000 from it already.
Outcome: TBD
Seahawks QB Geno Smith
Incentive: Smith has had a resurgent season — and it’s shown from all the incentives he’s netted. The Comeback Player of the Year favorite has already earned $2.25 million in bonuses after passing a series of playing time, Pro Bowl and passing yard barriers.
He’ll net another $250,000 if he throws for 114 or more yards on Sunday.
And if the Seahawks win and the Lions win? The Seahawks make the playoffs — earning Smith an extra $2 million.
Outcome: The Seahawks' QB threw for 213 yards, and a Seahawks win now means the team needs the Lions to win in order for the team to make the playoffs.
Rams TE Tyler Higbee
Incentive: Higbee can reach a $500,000 incentive with 13 more receiving yards.
Outcome: Higbee easily met this incentive bonus, racking up 33 receiving yards on the day.
Chargers WR DeAndre Carter
Incentive: Carter can earn an extra $250,000 with two receptions against the Broncos.
Outcome: Carter totaled three catches on the day to meet this incentive.
Chargers TE Gerald Everett
Incentive: Everett can make $250,000 if he can nab five more catches.
Outcome: The Chargers' tight end only secured three catches on the day.
Lions WR Kalif Raymond
Incentive: Raymond will make $125,000 with two more catches and an additional $125,000 for 100 yards more yards on Sunday in a win-or-go-home matchup against the Packers.
Outcome: TBD
Lions RB Jamaal Williams
Incentive: Williams will make $250,000 for six more rushing yards. Williams’ teammates could be seen clapping him up heavily after a massive gain in garbage time during last week’s win over the Bears — presumably because they were aware of this incentive.
Outcome: TBD
Packers LB Preston Smith
Incentive: Smith needs 1.5 more sacks to net himself $1 million.
Outcome: TBD
