NFL Week 17 Fantasy Football Weather Report

December 27, 2024

Adam's Week 17 NFL weather report for fantasy football (2024). He looks at which NFL games will be affected by weather to make key fantasy start/sit decisions.

If you're reading this, you're probably in the fantasy football championship in Week 17. Congratulations, happy holidays, and a very Happy New Year to you (hopefully, if you win). At this point, three games have already been played, but we still have 13 more to go. The purpose of this article is to help you make informed lineup decisions based on the weather forecast. Yes, in some cases, the weather can have a major impact on player production.

We will rely on the most accurate and up-to-date weather forecasts for each stadium from AccuWeather, a source that provides comprehensive weather maps. Factors such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed/direction, and visibility can play a crucial role in shaping game outcomes and statistics.

Our goal with this article is to assist you in making informed decisions for your fantasy teams and other betting activities, allowing you to capitalize on opportunities or navigate challenges posed by weather dynamics. Here is your comprehensive fantasy football weather report for Week 17 of the 2024 season.

Dome Games (No Weather Impact)

Some games in Week 17 will benefit from being played in domed stadiums, where the weather won't affect the outcome. These indoor venues provide a consistent environment.

• Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
• Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints
• Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

Minimal Weather Impact

These outdoor games in Week 17 don't appear to have very many weather concerns.

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots (Saturday, 12/28 at 1:00 p.m. ET)

There's a 40% chance of precipitation at Gillette Stadium during the Chargers and Patriots game. However, winds will be light (5-10 miles per hour (mph)) and temperatures will be above freezing. All in all, not a terrible forecast for December 28 in the Northeast.

That being said, there's probably only one "must-start" guy in this game and that's Chargers rookie wideout Ladd McConkey.

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals (Saturday, 12/28 at 4:30 p.m. ET)

It looks like rain is coming in Cincinnati, but it might hold off until after the Broncos and Bengals matchup at 4:30 p.m. ET. Currently, rain chances are around 20% at kickoff and go up to 50% closer to midnight. Winds aren't expected to be much of an issue in this game, either, clocking in at 6 mph sustained with gusts up to 15 mph.

With a big over/under of 49.5, this game looks like it could turn into a good old-fashioned shootout. Bo Nix is firmly in the top-10 QB conversation for Championship Week 17.

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 12/29 at 1:00 p.m. ET)

Conditions look favorable for the Panthers vs. Buccaneers game on Sunday in Tampa, Fla. There's a 50% chance of rain for the day, but that number reduces to just 25% during the game. Winds will be mild at just 9 mph sustained and temperatures will be in the mid-70s.

This game features the third-highest over/under (48.5) on the Week 17 slate. Fire up all of the offensive weapons in this one. Look for Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans to bounce back and have a field day in this one.

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 12/29 at 1:00 p.m. ET)

A very similar forecast is in store in Jacksonville, Fla., as it is in Tampa on Sunday. There's a chance of rain (small) with sustained winds around 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. It'll be warm and overall pretty good weather conditions as two 3-12 teams face off in the race to the bottom (of the standings).

Even though both teams are probably hoping to lose, some guys could make an impact on your fantasy football team this weekend, including Brian Thomas Jr., Brenton Strange, Tyjae Spears, Calvin Ridley, and Chig Okonkwo.

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 12/29 at 1:00 p.m. ET)

It looks like it's going to be a soaker in The City of Brotherly Love on Sunday when the Eagles play host to the Dallas Cowboys. Temperatures will be in the low-to-mid 50s, but the forecast calls for over one inch of rain throughout the entire day.

Additionally, it appears the rain will be heaviest between noon and 4 p.m. Not only will it be rainy, but winds are forecast to be sustained around 14 mph with gusts reaching 30-32 mph.

The deep passing games and the kicking games will be affected in this one. The Eagles could also be without Jalen Hurts, so they'll most likely be relying on Kenny Pickett. Neither Pickett nor Cooper Rush has the strongest of arms, so guys like A.J. Brown will need to rely on their yards-after-catch (YAC) ability in this one to sustain any meaningful production.

This is setting up to be a huge Saquon Barkley game.

Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants (Sunday, 12/29 at 1:00 p.m. ET)

It'll be a similar forecast in East Rutherford, N.J., to Philadelphia on Sunday. Rain will be consistent throughout the game with winds sustained between 10 and 12 mph. Wind gusts are forecast to reach 30 mph in this one. It's not bad enough to fade anything here entirely, but there could be some impact on the downfield passing game.

Just like in Philly, this could be a big game on the ground for the 7.5-point road favorite Colts. Expect Jonathan Taylor to follow up his massive Week 16 performance with another fine performance in Championship Week 17.

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers (Monday, 12/30 at 8:15 p.m. ET)

It's going to be a picture-perfect Monday night in Santa Clara when the 49ers play host to the Detroit Lions. This game features the highest over/under (50.5) on the slate with the Lions currently listed as 3.5-point favorites. This game has a shootout written all over it. Start them all! Jahmyr Gibbs, Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jauan Jennings, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel Sr., Isaac Guerendo (hopefully), and Brock Purdy.

Severe Weather Impact

Let's focus on matchups where weather conditions could substantially influence the game.

UPDATED 12/29 at 10:30 AM EST

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 12/29 at 1:00 p.m. ET)

The rain looks like it might hang around longer now and the winds could pick up to 25-30 MPH gusts. It's a downgrade to receivers in the downfield passing game and an upgrade to running backs and receivers who run shorter routes (i.e. slot receiver Khalil Shakir).

Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders (Sunday, 12/29 at 8:20 p.m. ET)

I'm keeping this game between the Falcons and Commanders in the "Minimal Weather Impact" section because it's a night game. The rain and wind in the Northeast is expected to wrap up sometime in the late afternoon or early evening, so conditions could be clearing for this one.

As a result, there shouldn't be too much of an impact on the game. Keep an eye on the forecast, though, as we get closer to game time.

UPDATE: Wind speeds are picking up and the rain could hang around into the evening.

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 12/29 at 4:05 p.m. ET)

It'll be a rainy day in Cleveland when the Browns play host to the Miami Dolphins. However, despite the rain, winds don't appear to be too much of a factor. They're forecast at just 8 mph with 18-20 mph gusts.

It won't be a washout by any means, but the ball could be slick, which could impact the passing game a bit. The Dolphins are very reliant on the short and underneath stuff, so you shouldn't necessarily fade Jonnu Smith and Tyreek Hill in this one.

On the other side of the ball, don't expect much from Dorian Thompson-Robinson and his pass-catchers on Sunday. It's gearing up to be another heavy workload for Jerome Ford.

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