If you’re still playing for your season-long championship, congratulations are in order. You’ve navigated injuries, coaching changes and the waiver wire and are likely in the final 4! For those who aren’t, there’s still plenty to pay attention to this season. For instance, you could join daily fantasy sports contests if you’re itching for more wins. For NFL players, contract incentives can motivate them even without much else on the line.
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady certainly cared about earning Gronk an extra million dollars a few years back, and incentives are frequently discussed on practice fields and in locker rooms in the final few weeks. Here are some of the more intriguing thresholds players can still meet to help inform your prop plays and DFS lineups this holiday season!
LEGEND: When Tom Brady REFUSED TO LEAVE THE GAME to make sure his teammate, Rob Gronkowski got his million dollar catch BONUS.
🐐 teammate
(🎥https://t.co/fqoMhEja8t : NFL)
pic.twitter.com/WhwgesO4YG— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 3, 2024
Multiple thresholds within reach
Tony Pollard signed a three-year, $21.75 million deal with the Tennessee Titans this summer. If he gets 1,100 rushing yards, Pollard earns an extra $250K. He can also get an additional $200K for reaching seven rushing touchdowns. He has 982 rushing yards and five rushing TDs with three games left in the division — Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. Let’s see if head coach Brian Callahan feeds Pollard down the stretch or if this was part of the rationale to “manage his touches,” as Callahan referenced earlier in the season.
Zach Ertz signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Washington Commanders in free agency, but he can make much more than that if he stays busy down the regular-season home stretch. Here are the contract incentives in play for Ertz:
- Reception incentives — $250,000 each for 60, 70, 80.
- Receiving yard incentives — $250,000 each for 600, 700, 800.
- Touchdown Incentives — $250,000 each for 6, 8.
Ertz has 54 catches, 526 yards and four touchdowns with three games left — Philadephia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. Ertz left last week’s game with a concussion, but he should return with a couple of chances to reach these marks and earn some extra cash. The Commanders are one game up on the Seattle Seahawks for the final NFC wild-card spot. Just like Gronk informed Brady of what was on the line, Ertz needs to clue in likely ROY Jayden Daniels where to look down the stretch.
IR with incentive to return
J.K. Dobbins signed a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason. Unsurprisingly, the contract is incentive-laced — he was returning from an Achilles injury and has a history of missing time due to injury. Dobbins can earn an extra $150K each time he goes over a rushing-yard benchmark, and he’s already earned an extra $300K for surpassing rushing yard plateaus of 600 and 750. He can get an additional $150K each if he reaches thresholds of 900 and 1,050 rushing yards. He was sitting at 766 rushing yards before injuring his knee and being placed on injured reserve. Dobbins is eligible to return in Week 17, and the Chargers will need him in road games against the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders to finish the season strong and lock up an AFC wild-card spot. And Dobbins will need 134 rushing yards to lock up a little something extra for himself!
Austin Ekeler signed for two years and $8.43 million in Washington after years with the Chargers. The Commanders used an incentive structure similar to Ertz, adding $125K bonuses for Ekeler if he reached 500, 750 and 1,000 rushing yards. Ekeler’s largest role is as a receiving back, so the contract also has $125K incentives for 500, 650, and 800 receiving yards and 8, 10, and 12 touchdowns. Ekeler is in the concussion protocol and being cautious after his second documented concussion this season. However, if he comes back, he has a chance to reach the 500-yard bonuses for rushing and receiving — he currently sits at 355 rushing yards and 346 receiving yards.
Incentivized for team success
Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry were the two biggest running back signings this offseason. The Eagles and Baltimore Ravens signed the league’s two leading rushers to deals of three years, $37.75 million and two years, $16 million, respectively. Both are well on their way to earning at least an extra half-million dollars with bonuses for rushing and receiving yards. They have each already surpassed 1,500 scrimmage yards in 13 games, ensuring they’ll cash in. However, both players can earn extra incentives tied to their team’s success. Barkley will earn an additional $250K if the Eagles win the NFC championship and Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Henry gets an extra $500K if the Ravens win the Super Bowl. With both teams firmly in the playoffs, this is a fun narrative as Philly and Baltimore continue their marches into the postseason.
(Top photo of Tony Pollard: Steve Roberts / Imagn Images)
