Welcome back, weather enthusiasts! We are now in year 3 of this article, so thank you for joining me, and I hope the tips below made a positive difference in your fantasy league last year.
Now, let’s get some ground rules out of the way. For a truly next-level analysis of weather-based football impacts, this article by Matt Disorbo is required reading: “Whether Weather Really Matters.”. Also, the weather is a factor that you have to take into account, but it is not the only factor. This is just one factor you have to take into your overall calculus about your starting lineup. Finally, I am not an NFL player (shocked, I know), so the human factor of cold/heat/rain on players will vary. You will get my best estimate based on conditions, but some players will be more (or less) susceptible to the elements than others.
Enough preamble, let’s get to some games. Football is back, baby!
Sunday Early Afternoon Games
Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns
LOW impact. There will be some rain showers in and around Cleveland in the morning, but I expect them to clear out just before kickoff. Winds will be fairly light at the high single-digit range and temps in the mid 60s. Overall, it looks like a good day for football. Start all your studs!
Las Vegas Raiders @ New England Patriots
MEDIUM impact. Expect some rain before kickoff and into the first quarter. Typically, with rain, expect the biggest impacts to be on your pass catchers. The winds won’t be too strong, sitting around the high single digits. So once the rain clears out of the area, the teams will be good to go. If you’re starting any WR in this game, I wouldn’t bench them solely for the weather.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ New York Jets
LOW impact. Another game with a small chance of rain before kickoff. Most of the rain will be out of the area, so I’m not worried about any impacts during the game. Expect light winds with temperatures in the high 60s. Start all your players as normal.
New York Giants @ Washington Commanders
LOW impact. Please stop me if you’ve heard this before, but there will be some rain showers Sunday morning, and they will clear out before kickoff. There won’t be any impact during game time. Just like the other East Coast games, the winds will be light and temperatures will be in the mid-70s.
Carolina Panthers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
LOW impact. Unlike the rest of the morning games, you should expect to see some gradual increase in rain and thunderstorms in and around Jacksonville after kickoff. Now these rain showers will be fairly spotty, so while there may be some rain during gametime, it will likely not last long. There is also a chance of afternoon thunderstorms (classic Florida), but as we saw with the Thursday Night game, if a thunderstorm occurs directly over the stadium, they’ll likely delay the game. Temperatures are expected to be high, reaching the low 90s during the game. With all that being said, I wouldn’t expect any significant impacts from weather during the game.
Sunday Late Afternoon Games
Tennessee Titans @ Denver Broncos
LOW impact. It’ll be a nice day up in Denver for the most part. I’m not expecting any rain or thunderstorms throughout the game. Temperatures will be sitting in the low 80s. The tricky part will be the winds. Sustained winds won’t be an issue with wind speeds in the single digits. However, I am seeing some gust potential up to the mid to high teens. Is there a world where Wil Lutz is lining up for the game-winning kick, and a gust comes down and blows it off target? Knowing my fantasy luck, that’s certainly a possibility. Don’t go adjusting your fantasy lineups for wind gusts now, but keep an eye before kickoff to make sure that everything is looking good.
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
LOW impact. There’s a 30% chance of rain throughout gametime, so expect some damp conditions. From what I’m seeing, it won’t be enough to cause issues, but probably enough to be annoying. Winds will be light and the temperatures will be in the upper 60s. I’m not seeing enough to bench any of your studs, just keep an eye as we get closer to kickoff.
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers
LOW impact. Now here’s a game that will be nice. Winds in the single digits, mostly clear skies, and temperatures in the upper 60s. It’ll be a beautiful afternoon in Green Bay. This is my “Good Weather Game of the Week”.
Sunday Night Game
Baltimore Ravens @ Buffalo Bills
LOW impact. It’s shaping up to be an overall decent night in Buffalo. So let’s all enjoy these summer games before I have to start calculating wind chill. Winds will be a little high with sustained speeds in the mid-teens. With those speeds, don’t fade any of your pass catchers or QBs. If you’re looking for a kicker, if you have a good alternative, then switch to those. I think Tyler Loop and Matt Prater are fine starts, but they may run into some wind issues with long-distance kicks.
Monday Night Game
Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears
LOW impact. Wrapping up Week 1 in Chicago with what should be a nice night. No rain is expected, winds will be in the high single digits with an occasional gust into the mid-teens, and temperatures will be in the mid-60s. No weather-related issues expected, start your studs.
Best of luck to your team in the week ahead!