By Zach Alvira
Head of Content
The final week of the NFL regular season is here. And for many, myself included, it came way too fast.
There is truth to the saying, "Time flies when you're having fun." Yet, sometimes I wish time would slow down a bit. Football season is special for myself and millions of others across the United States and world. The hard-hitting action, the defensive battles, the shootouts and the incredible display of talent brings joy each Sunday despite the dread of returning to work 24 hours later to start a new week.
Then, of course, there's the mid-week joy of Thursday Night Football (sometimes), and what I like to call the "you made it through Monday" treat to end the week's slate of games.
Football is special for many other reasons, too. From Fantasy Football to sports betting (where legal), it adds a new layer to the fun that is the most popular sport in the U.S. But as the regular season now winds down, Week 18 brings with it a bit of a different feel than others.
Some teams have much to play for, others do not. This is the week we see teams rest starters to prepare for playoffs. In other circumstances, teams shut down star players to avoid injury heading into the off-season. Then there's the incentives. A long list of players are chasing bonuses this week, with many easily attainable that reach upwards of millions of dollars.
So, with that being said, here's a breakdown of the players sitting out this week as well as those chasing bonuses before the playoffs begin.
Taking a seat
Kansas City Chiefs
To nobody's surprise, yet maybe several people's dismay, the Kansas City Cheifs have secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That makes Sunday's tilt against the Denver Broncos meaningless for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.
And in even more unsurprising news, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce will not be suited up Sunday. It may be a blessing, however, as Mahomes has been banged up with an ankle injury yet again.
Here's a full list of Chiefs sitting out:
QB Patrick Mahomes
TE Travis Kelce
DT Chris Jones
CB Trent McDuffie
RB Isiah Pacheco
OL Jawaan Taylor
CB Jaylen Watson
LB Nick Bolton
RB Kareem Hunt
DE George Karlaftis
S Justin Reid
LB Drue Tranquill
WR Mecole Hardman
Philadelphia Eagles
Unlike the Chiefs, this may be a bit of a surprise to many fans. Saquon Barkley is just 101 yards away from breaking the single-season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson. However, he will not suit up for the Eagles.
Philadelphia has secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC. So, there really isn't much to play for. But chasing a record of that caliber had many believing Saquon should go for it. But doing so would risk injury to one of the best backs in football. That was enough for Nick Sirianni to pull the plug on Barkley until the postseason. Jalen Hurts, along with many others, will also sit out. Though Hurts is still making his way back from a concussion.
Eagles sitting out:
RB Saquon Barkley
QB Jalen Hurts
WR A.J. Brown
WR DeVonta Smith
LB Zack Baun
OL Mekhi Becton
DL Jalen Carter
S Reed Blankenship
DB Cooper DeJean
OL Landon Dickerson
CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson
OL Lane Johnson
OL Cam Jurgens
OL Jordan Mailata
CB Quinyon Mitchell
CB Darius Slay
LB Nolan Smith
DE Josh Sweat
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams locked up a spot in the postseason last week with their win over Arizona and strength of schedule tiebreaker. They don't know where exactly they'll land -- either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed -- but regardless, Sean McVay has pulled the plug on several starters for their Week 18 tilt against the Seattle Seahawks.
Rams sitting out:
QB Matthew Stafford
WR Cooper Kupp
WR Puka Nacua
RB Kyren Williams
OL Alaric Jackson
OL Kevin Dotson
OL Rob Havenstein
San Francisco 49ers
We've reached the "nothing to play for" part of the list.
The 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago after an abysmal season headlined by multiple injuries to star players. Unlike some other teams, most of the starters sitting out for the 49ers have injury designations, much like their opponent -- the Cardinals -- do with running backs James Conner and Emari DeMercado.
Missing from the list below is tight end George Kittle, who appears to be a game time decision with an ankle injury.
49ers sitting out:
QB Brock Purdy (elbow)
ATH Deebo Samuel (ribs, wrist)
CB Deommodore Lenoir (shoulder)
OL Spencer Burford (calf)
DL Robert Beal Jr. (ankle)
Other teams to watch
The Buffalo Bills have locked up the No. 2 seed in the AFC, yet head coach Doug McDermott appears to be trotting out his starters for Week 18 against the Patriots. However, that may be to simply keep quarterback Josh Allen's streak of consecutive starts intact.
There is belief the Bills starters won't play much, or will be late scratches.
The Houston Texans are in a similar position as Buffalo, as head coach DeMeco Ryans said he will play his starters. Though, in similar fashion, that may not last long.
With Baltimore playing before the Steelers on Saturday, Pittsburgh may make a decision just before kickoff to sit or play its starters. A Ravens win makes the Saturday night tilt between the Steelers and Bengals meaningless.
Show me the money
Bonuses are great for those who get them on a regular basis. Though, I'd be willing to believe many aren't to the extent of NFL players when achieving a certain stat to wrap up the season.
If I were a betting man (which I am) I would pay close attention to the actives/inactives list as we near kickoff for the Week 18 games. There's a long list of players who are playing for cash. And as we've seen in the past, coaches and teammates typically do everything they can to help achieve those goals.
Personally, I will be setting up a small parlay with these incentives in mind. Here's a list to help you with yours. As always, please do so responsibly.
Arizona QB Kyler Murray: 50+ rushing yards, 1+ rushing touchdown - $750,000
Arizona LB Zaven Collins: 1+ sacks - $300,000
Baltimore LB Kyle Van Noy: .5+ sacks - $250,000
Baltimore RB Justice Hill: 8+ receptions - $250,000
Buffalo LB Von Miller: 1+ sacks - $1.5 million
Buffalo CB Taron Johnson: 1+ interceptions - $250,000
Buffalo TE Dawson Knox: 8+ receptions, 89 receiving yards - $200,000
Buffalo DL DaQuon Jones: .5+ sacks - $250,000
Cincinnati TE Mike Gesicki: 3+ receiving yards - $125,000
Dallas DL Linval Joseph: 1+ sacks - $100,000
Denver WR Courtland Sutton: 82+ receiving yards - $2 million
Denver LB Cody Barton: 1+ interceptions - $250,000
Detroit DE Za'Darius Smith: 2+ sacks - $250,000
Houston RB Joe Mixon: 107+ rushing yards - $250,000
Indianapolis DE Tyquan Lewis: 1.5+ sacks - $100,000
Kansas City WR DeAndre Hopkins: 140+ receiving yards - $250,000
Kansas City WR DeAndre Hopkins: 9+ receptions - $250,000
Las Vegas RB Alexander Mattison: 8+ receptons - $125,000
Los Angeles Chargers CB Kristian Fulton: 1+ interceptions - $125,000
Los Angeles Chargers RB JK Dobbins: 58+ rushing yards - $150,000
Los Angeles Chargers LB Bud Dupree: 1+ sacks - $250,000
New Orleans WR Marquez Valdez-Scantling: 1+ TD - $250,000
Miami LB Tyrel Dodson: 1+ sacks - $300,000
Miami LB Emmanuel Ogbah: 1.5+ sacks - $500,000
Miami DL Calais Campbel: 1+ sacks - $300,000
Minnesota LB Blake Cashman: .5+ sacks - $250,000
New York Jets WR Tyler Conklin: 1+ receptions - $250,000
New York Jets DL Javon Kinlaw: .5+ sacks - $250,000
Seattle QB Geno Smith: 185+ passing yards - $2 million
Seattle QB Geno Smith: Finish over 69.7$ completion rate - $2 million
Seattle QB Geno Smith: Seattle win - $2 million
Tampa Bay WR Mike Evans: 5+ receptions, 85+ receiving yards - $3 million
Tennessee RB Tony Pollard: 83+ rushing yards - $250,000
Tennessee RB Tony Pollard: 2+ rushing touchdowns - $200,000
Tennessee LB Kenneth Murray: .5+ sacks - $250,000
Tennessee LB Arden Key: 1.5+ sacks - $500,000
Washignton DE Dorance Armstrong: 1+ sacks - $250,000
Washington DE Dante Fowler Jr.: .5+ sacks - $375,000
Washington TE Zach Ertz: 9+ receptions - $250,000
Washington TE Zach Ertz: 90+ receiving yards - $250,000
Washington TE Zach Ertz: 2+ receiving touchdowns - $250,000
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