When it comes to making NFL player picks on PrizePicks this week and next, a significant part of the process is knowing which players are close to hitting monetary play-based contract incentives. Oftentimes, we'll see quarterbacks and coaches help their players reach these marks and cash in.
Many players stand to make up to millions of dollars in bonuses this week if they hit certain statistical milestones. Below, we’ll cover all of the known player contract incentives that come into play this week that you can target on PrizePicks.
Players like WR Jauan Jennings, RB Rico Dowdle, and WR Nico Collins find themselves in situations where not only are they close to an incentive, but their team also has a must-win game, so these are areas where we can hone in on.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important player contract incentives for Week 17, and their PrizePicks projections that we can target. based on what players need to get extra money.
NFL Players with Contract Incentives Tracker: Week 17
Here are the players who can make themselves a little bit of extra money in Week 17 as they chase their contract incentives.
Keep in mind that these players have additional motivation, which could be a good reason to add them to your PrizePicks lineup this week — where you can win real money buy picking More or Less on player statas in every NFL game.
- Seahawks QB Sam Darnold
- Panthers RB Rico Dowdle
- Patriots WR Stefon Diggs
- 49ers WR Kendrick Bourne
- 49ers WR Jauan Jennings
- Chargers WR Keenan Allen
- Texans WR Nico Collins
- Bills TE Dawson Knox
- Patriots TE Hunter Henry
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Contract Incentives
Needs: 297 passing yards, 4 pass TDs, an improvement of 0.3% completion
Darnold is the biggest fish in terms of name value on this list. When the former top-three overall pick signed with the Seahawks this offseason, his contract contained several annual incentives for him to hit. While five of those are postseason-based, there are 4 individual performance-based incentives that Darnold is in complete control of.
Sitting at $500,000 each, Darnold needs 4,000 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, a 67.5% completion percentage, and a 100 passer rating. With two games to go, Darnold is in a great spot to surpass all four of these metrics. He needs 297 more passing yards, 4 more passing TDs, an improvement of 0.3%, and to maintain his 100.6 passer rating.
The Seahawks QB has been one of the more impressive free agent stories of the season, taking over for departed Seahawk Geno Smith and getting named to the Pro Bowl for the second straight season.
Darnold's passing yards is currently the most popular player pick on PrizePicks for Week 17.
Sam Darnold PrizePicks NFL Projections: 228.5 pass yards, 1.5 pass TDs, 18.5 completions
Panthers RB Rico Dowdle Contract Incentives
Needs: 70 all-purpose yards, 1 TD
When Dowdle signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Panthers this offseason, it was viewed with raised eyebrows for some. After all, the Panthers had just paid RB Chuba Hubbard a $30 million contract.
However, the former Cowboy has looked like a massive steal, racking up over 1,000 rushing yards and adding nearly 300 receiving yards as well. He didn’t receive a $500,000 incentive for being named to the Pro Bowl, but he’s close to another massive incentive.
Dowdle can earn $1 million for 1,350 all-purpose yards. He currently sits at 1,280, and with games against the Seahawks and Buccaneers remaining, as well as the Panthers needing to win out to make sure they secure the NFC South, he’s sure to remain involved.
He can also earn an extra $250,000 if he scores one more touchdown to bring his total to 8.
Rico Dowdle PrizePicks NFL Projections: 46.5 rush yards, 14.5 receiving yards, 65.5 rush+rec yards
Patriots WR Stefon Diggs Contract Incentives
Needs: 4, 14, 24 receptions; 131, 231, 331, 431 receiving yards
When Diggs signed his three-year Patriots contract this offseason, it included a set of escalators around receiving yards and receptions. He would get $500,000 for hitting 70, 80, 90, and 100 receptions, as well as 1,000, 1,100, 1,200, and 1,300 receiving yards.
Diggs currently sits at 76 receptions for 869 yards. He has already earned the first reception bonus and is 4 catches away from his second one. He is 131 yards away from the first receiving yards escalator.
Two divisional matchups against the Jets and Dolphins could spur Diggs into some nice money in the new year.
Stefon Diggs PrizePicks NFL Projections: 62.5 receiving yards, 3.5 receptions (Goblin)
49ers WR Kendrick Bourne Contract Incentives
Needs: 74 receiving yards; 9, 19 receptions
Bourne was able to earn $500,000 in incentives last week for passing 500 yards. Now sitting at 526 receiving yards, he can earn another $250,000 for crossing 600.
The 49ers veteran can also earn extra money for more receptions. Currently at 36 grabs, he needs 45 catches to earn an extra $500,000, and will pocket $250,000 more if he’s able to get 55.
49ers WR Jauan Jennings Contract Incentives
Jennings had three play-time incentives added to his contract at the beginning of the 2025 NFL season to sweeten the deal for him. He already hit his touchdown incentive, which paid him $666,667 for 6 touchdowns.
Left on the table are 60 catches and 600 receiving yards, which would pay the 49ers' current top WR $666,666 each. Jennings sits at 49 catches and 566 yards, so both are very reachable outcomes for the veteran.
Jauan Jennings PrizePicks NFL Projections: 55.5 receiving yards, 4.5 receptions
Chargers WR Keenan Allen Contract Incentives
Needs: 7 receptions; 26, 151 receiving yards
Keenan Allen has long been one of QB Justin Herbert’s most reliable targets. After a short stint with the Chicago Bears, the veteran WR returned to Los Angeles on an incentive-laden deal.
The sure-handed WR currently has 73 receptions, and after hitting escalators at 40, 50, 60, and 71 for $250,000 each, can cash in on $750,000 if he can reach 80 receptions on the season.
Less in play but still notable for Allen are receiving yards escalators of 750 and 875 yards, both of which would pay him $250,000 each. He currently sits at 724 yards.
Keenan Allen PrizePicks NFL Projections: 32.5 receiving yards, 3.5 receptions
Texans WR Nico Collins Contract Incentives
Needs: 400 receiving yards
Nico Collins is one of the least likely names on this list to hit his incentive, but hitting it would sure be nice for the fifth-year WR who notched his third-straight 1,000-yard season this year.
The Texans’ star WR needs 400 total receiving yards in his final two games of the year to hit 1,460 yards and unlock a $250,000 bonus payment. It’s unlikely, but Collins has had at least 150 yards in 4 games across his career, so it’s not impossible against the Chargers and Colts.
The Texans are chasing the Jaguars for the AFC South division title, so Collins could push hard to get to this number.
Nico Collins PrizePicks NFL Projections: 64.5 yards,4.5 receptions, 13 points fantasy score
Bills TE Dawson Knox Contract Incentives
Needs: 1 reception, 37 yards, 1 TD
After welcoming his first child two weeks ago, Knox proceeded to score 2 touchdowns against the New England Patriots, so QB Josh Allen is no stranger to getting his guys the ball if they need it.
By reaching 30 receptions, 400 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns, Knox can earn a total of $300,000 in incentives. He currently has 29 catches, 363 yards, and 3 TDs, so look for Allen to have a homing beacon on his tight end in the next couple of weeks.
Dawson Knox PrizePicks NFL Projections: 1.5 receptions (Goblin), 17.5 receiving yards
Patriots TE Hunter Henry Contract Incentives
Needs: 3, 8, 13 receptions
The Patriots’ veteran TE has had another solid year, racking up 663 receiving yards and 6 TDs in QB Drake Maye’s breakout season. He can earn some extra money by notching some receptions in the final two weeks of the year as well.
Currently sitting at 52 grabs on the year, Henry can earn $250,000 each for hitting 55, 60, and 65 catches.
Hunter Henry PrizePicks NFL Projections: 4.5 receptions, 45.5 receiving yards
Cash in on NFL Picks on PrizePicks
Which NFL players will hit their contract incentives as the season winds down? Use PrizePicks projections plus available contract incentives data to make your picks on PrizePicks.
When you make player picks on PrizePicks, you can turn your knowledge into real-money wins. Pick your players, predict More or Less on their stats, submit your Lineup, and win cash if you're right.
For more NFL picks, predictions, player insights, and expert analysis, PrizePicks and the Playbook are your best resources all season long.
