Teams across the NFL may be eliminated from the playoffs or locked into a seed and have effectively nothing to play for, but the players of those teams might have contract incentives and records that they are chasing after.
These can affect how we approach NFL player props, as players may have a little extra pep in their step as they look to trigger bonuses and end the season on a high note.
Below are some of the statistical milestones we think are of the utmost importance when making our NFL picks for Week 17.
Single-season records
Brock Bowers: Rookie reception record
Last year saw Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua break the rookie record with 105 receptions, and although this class featured potential superstar wide receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, and Brian Thomas Jr., a tight end has surprisingly led the rookies in receptions.
Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers has 101 catches following an 11-reception showing last week and needs just five more in the next two games to write his name in history.
This week, he takes on the Saints, who just got blown out 34-0 and have been very weak in coverage. Expect Bowers to write his name in the history books this week.
Saquon Barkley: Single-season rushing record
Eric Dickerson set the single-season rushing record exactly 40 years ago with 2,105 yards.
In pursuit of that record, Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley added 150 yards and is now at 1,838 on the season (and he earned a $250,000 incentive for reaching 2,000 scrimmage yards). He needs 268 in the last two games to break Dickerson's record.
This week, the Eagles draw the Cowboys, who haven't been up to the defensive standard of past seasons, but the problem becomes Week 18 if they get seed locked after this week's games.
If Barkley can put together another solid performance this week, the Eagles may have him suit up to give him a fair shot at breaking the record.
Popular NFL futures markets
Contract incentives
Mike Evans: Death, taxes, & 1,000 yards
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans has hit 1,000+ yards in each season since entering the league in 2014, and he needs a little juice to get there this year after missing some games due to injury.
Evans now sits at 818, leaving him needing a 91-yards-per-game pace for the final two weeks.
But keeping the streak alive isn't just a feel-good accomplishment, it also could help him earn some more money.
Evans will make $3 million if he can reach 70 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. On top of the aforementioned yardage, he needs 13 more receptions and one more touchdown to achieve all three to unlock this incentive.
The Bucs play the Carolina Panthers secondary in Week 17. Despite their record, they have quietly been a somewhat solid unit as of late.
Zach Ertz: Post-prime resurgence
Zach Ertz had failed to find his Pro Bowl-caliber footing for several years until he landed with the Washington Commanders this season.
He has tallied three-year highs in receptions (55), yards (538), and touchdowns (four).
However, he has slowed down as of late largely due to a concussion he suffered two weeks ago and has added just three receptions for 37 yards and no touchdowns in the last two games.
But Ertz's contract allows him to earn $250,000 for hitting each of three different reception milestones (60, 70, and 80), three different yardage totals (600, 700, and 800), and two touchdown marks (six and eight).
This week he will face off against the Falcons, who have allowed the fifth-fewest receptions and seventh-fewest yards and touchdowns to tight ends this year.
