With one week left in the regular season, playoff spots are not the only thing on the line for players around the league. NFL milestones and contract bonuses play a crucial role in which players you should be paying attention to, especially in the prop betting market. If these thresholds are met, players can expect a massive payday to top off their 2022 season. So let’s take a look at who in particular you should keep your eye on when it comes to that little extra incentive that could earn you an equally large payday. Here are the top five NFL player incentives for Week 18.
NFL Player Incentives Week 18
Check out our list of top milestones and contract incentives for potential record-breakers around the NFL.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: Single-Season Passing Record
Mahomes needs 430 passing yards in Week 18 to break Peyton Manning’s single-season passing record. This Sunday, the Chiefs will face their division rival, the Las Vegas Raiders. In one other matchup against Las Vegas, Mahomes threw for 292 yards and four touchdowns. So the potential is definitely there, especially because the Chiefs squeaked away with a 30-29.
Expect Mahomes to end the season strong and establish momentum entering the playoffs. Racking up at least 430 passing yards seems far-fetched, but look out if Mahomes is productive in the first half. If the record becomes feasible, then there’s a great chance the Chiefs QB keeps his foot on the gas pedal and goes for it.
Best odds: Patrick Mahomes Over 318.5 passing yards | -115 at BetRivers
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: Single-Season Receiving Record
Jefferson managed just 15 receiving yards against the Green Bay Packers last week, and that puts him behind the eight-ball to claim the single-season receiving record. Due to that low output, the Vikings’ star receiver now needs 194 yards against the Chicago Bears to break Calvin Johnson’s record of 1,964 receiving yards.
Earlier this season, Jefferson posted 154 receiving yards against the Bears. So the record could still be broken, especially with the Vikings looking to enter the playoffs on a high note, similar to the Chiefs. Jefferson has also crossed the 190+ yards marker on two other occasions this year, so it’s within the realm of possibilities.
Chargers TE Gerald Everett: Performance Bonus For 60 Receptions
This is a sneaky-good prop betting angle. Everett checks into this game with 55 receptions, so he’ll need five more to claim this reception bonus that would net him a cool extra $250,000.
The Chargers will face the Broncos in Week 18. Earlier this season, Everett had five receptions against the Broncos…Bingo. To sweeten the pot further, Everett has had 5+ receptions in seven different games this season. This is far from a long shot, it could almost be considered a slam dunk.
Vikings LB Za’Darius Smith: Performance Bonus For Sacks
Smith has 10 sacks on the season. If he records one more sack, he’ll receive a performance bonus of $750,000. Although Smith has not recorded a sack in his previous two games, he has recorded 1+ sacks in seven games this season.
With Justin Fields ruled out for Sunday, Smith has a better opportunity to get after whoever takes his place (Nathan Peterman?). A few thousand dollars, let alone three-quarters of a million dollars, should be enough to get the job done.
Baltimore LB Justin Houston: Performance Bonus For Sacks
Houston has nine sacks on the season, which already earns him a $1 million performance bonus. If he gets one more sack, that bonus will increase to $1.5 million.
The Ravens face the Bengals in Week 18. Earlier this season, the Ravens only managed to sack Joe Burrow one time. Houston did not play in that game so expect the increasing pressure to be enough for the star linebacker to secure this max payday.
