Last week was a reminder as to just how challenging it is for NFL players to earn incentives in their contracts, and how so few are achieved. From what I listed last week as possibilities, only the following incentives were earned:
Cameron Jordan: 9 sacks for $600,000 Mike Jackson: 4 interceptions for $500,000 Stefon Diggs: 70 receptions for $500,000 Hunter Henry: 55 receptions for $250,000 Dawson Knox: 30 receptions for $100,000 In addition, the amount of points the Dolphins have both allowed and scored are going to be critical in Week 18 for the wallets of multiple players in Miami, as top 20 rankings in one of each are a necessary condition. For points scored, they are 22nd with 337. The Giants and Chiefs stand in their way of getting in the top 20 with 247 and 350. Points allowed is even closer: they are 21st with 386, only two behind the Falcons with 384. What these players on the Dolphins will want is not only to find a way to beat the Patriots with a high margin of victory despite them fighting for high playoff seeding, but also for the Cowboys and Raiders getting stingy on defense, and the Saints to be able to put up a lot of points.
As with last week, here’s the update of incentives that could be practical to earn, broken down by broadcast window:
Saturday, January 3 Player Team Amount Requirement Currently Needed Rico Dowdle CAR $1,000,000 1,350 scrimmage yards 1,343 yards 7 yards Rico Dowdle CAR $250,000 8 total TDs 7 TDs 1 TD Sterling Shepard TB $125,000 40 receptions 39 receptions 1 reception Sterling Shepard TB $125,000 400 receiving yards 371 yards 29 yards Jamel Dean TB $500,000 4 INTs 3 INTs 1 INT Kendrick Bourne SF $500,000 45 receptions 37 receptions 8 receptions Kendrick Bourne SF $250,000 600 receiving yards 551 yards 49 yards Sam Darnold SEA $500,000 4,000 passing yards 3,850 yards 150 yards Sam Darnold SEA $500,000 28 passing TDs 25 TDs 3 TDs Sam Darnold SEA $500,000 67.5% completion 67.2% Improvement of 0.3% Sam Darnold SEA $500,000 100 passer rating 99.2 At least 112.8 for Week 18 Uchenna Nwosu SEA $250,000 8 sacks 6 sacks 2 sacks
Sunday, January 4 (early afternoon) Player Team Amount Requirement Currently Needed Joseph Ossai CIN $250,000 6 sacks 5 sacks 1 sack Donovan Wilson DAL $500,000 5 INTs 2 INTs 3 INTs Nick Chubb HOU $250,000 600 rushing yards 506 yards 94 yards Tyquan Lewis IND $150,000 5 sacks 3 sacks 2 sacks Arik Armstead JAX $1,000,000 7 sacks 5.5 sacks 1.5 sacks Jonathan Allen MIN $250,000 5 sacks 3.5 sacks 1.5 sacks Jordan Mason MIN $200,000 800 rushing yards 664 yards 136 yards Josh Oliver MIN $250,000 6 receiving TDs 4 TDs 2 TDs Tony Pollard TEN $250,000 1,100 rushing yards 1,034 yards 66 yards Tony Pollard TEN $200,000 7 rushing TDs 5 TDs 2 TDs Sebastian Joseph-Day TEN $250,000 4 sacks 2 sacks 2 sacks Van Jefferson TEN $100,000 30 receptions 29 receptions 1 reception
Sunday, January 4 (late afternoon) Player Team Amount Requirement Currently Needed Baron Browning ARI $350,000 5 sacks 2 sacks 3 sacks Ed Oliver BUF $250,000 6 sacks 3 sacks 3 sacks DaQuan Jones BUF $250,000 4 sacks 3 sacks 1 sack DaQuan Jones BUF $500,000 5 sacks 3 sacks 2 sacks Dawson Knox BUF $100,000 40 receptions 34 receptions 6 receptions Dawson Knox BUF $100,000 400 receiving yards 393 yards 7 yards Dawson Knox BUF $100,000 4 TDs 3 TDs 1 TD Matt Milano BUF $500,000 5 sacks 3.5 sacks 1.5 sacks Joey Bosa BUF $250,000 6 sacks 5 sacks 1 sack Joey Bosa BUF $500,000 8 sacks 5 sacks 3 sacks Michael Hoecht BUF $200,000 4 sacks 2 sacks 2 sacks Ty Johnson BUF $250,000 5 total TDs 3 TDs 2 TDs Christian Benford BUF $400,000 4 INTs 2 INTs 2 INTs Tre’Davious White BUF $250,000 2 INTs 1 INT 1 INT Tre’Davious White BUF $250,000 3 INTs 1 INT 2 INTs Adam Trautman DEN $125,000 25 receptions 20 receptions 5 receptions Marquise Brown KC $250,000 6 TDs 5 TDs 1 TD Marquise Brown KC $250,000 7 TDs 5 TDs 2 TDs Marquise Brown KC $125,000 625 receiving yards 523 yards 102 yards Kareem Hunt KC $25,000 750 scrimmage yards 719 yards 31 yards Charles Omenihu KC $250,000 5 sacks 3.5 sacks 1.5 sacks Tyler Higbee LAR $125,000 300 receiving yards 190 yards 110 yards Troy Dye LAC $75,000 2 sacks 1 sack 1 sack Benjamin St-Juste LAC $75,000 2 INTs 1 INT 1 INT Bradley Chubb MIA $2,125,000 8 sacks + Top 20 points allowed 8.5 sacks + 21st in points allowed Improvement to 20th points allowed Bradley Chubb MIA $900,000 11 sacks + Top 20 points allowed 8.5 sacks + 21st in points allowed 2.5 sacks + Improvement to 20th in points allowed Ifeatu Melifonwu MIA $500,000 3 INTs + Top 20 points allowed 2 INTs + 21st in points allowed 1 INT + Improvement to 20th in points allowed Ifeatu Melifonwu MIA $500,000 3 sacks + Top 20 points allowed 1 sack + 21st in points allowed 2 sacks + Improvement to 20th in points allowed Larry Borom MIA $250,000 60% offensive snaps + Top 20 points scored 65.6% offensive snaps + 22nd in points scored Improvement to 20th in points scored Hunter Henry NE $250,000 60 receptions 55 receptions 5 receptions Stefon Diggs NE $500,000 1,000 receiving yards 970 yards 30 yards Stefon Diggs NE $500,000 80 receptions 72 receptions 8 receptions K’Lavon Chaisson NE $500,000 7 sacks 6.5 sacks 0.5 sacks Dorance Armstrong Jr. WAS $250,000 6 sacks 5.5 sacks 0.5 sacks Dorance Armstrong Jr. WAS $250,000 8 sacks 5.5 sacks 2.5 sacks Jacob Martin WAS $125,000 7 sacks 5.5 sacks 1.5 sacks Von Miller WAS $500,000 9 sacks 8 sacks 1 sacks Frankie Luvu WAS $325,000 6 sacks 3 sacks 3 sacks
Sunday, January 4 (evening) Player Team Amount Requirement Currently Needed Dre’Mont Jones BAL $250,000 9 sacks 7 sacks 2 sacks