The nights are closing in and temperatures around the country are dropping, but what impact could the cooler and potentially wetter weather have on this week’s NFL games? In the Week 13 weather report, we examine how forecasts around the country could impact fantasy football decisions.
Weather forecasts are up to date as of 8:45 a.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. Forecasts for the games are from the National Weather Service.
Week 13 NFL Weather Report and Fantasy Impact
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Mid-40s
- Showers: 85% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 8 mph easterly
It looks like it is going to be a pretty cold and miserable day in Foxborough, Mass., this week as the New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers. With rain predicted throughout, combined with reasonably cool weather, it will not be a pleasant day for fans and players alike. However, there are some positives in the weather forecast for this NFL game.
Cold and rain on their own are annoying and can wear down the mentality of the players. However, if that is accompanied by winds over 10 mph, problems often occur. This week the wind is supposed to be relatively calm and should not have a major impact on the game.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
The concern for fantasy managers is that we can often see warm-weather or dome teams struggle in these temperatures. That could have an impact on Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, and Keenan Allen. What makes things worse for the latter of those names is that cold temperatures can be a problem when dealing with a soft tissue injury like a quad strain.
Overall, you probably are not downgrading anyone much in this game because of the weather. Allen is a concern, but if he is active, it will be hard not to start him. In terms of Herbert, Ekeler, and Rhamondre Stevenson, all three are starting as normal options. Beyond that, there is limited fantasy value to be found here.
Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-40s
- Showers: 90% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 9 mph easterly
The picture in New Jersey will be almost as miserable as Foxborough, but hopefully just a little warmer. Once again, the current forecast is for middling winds that should not have a major impact. The potential for constant rain will frustrate players and could lead to some ball security issues.
The Atlanta Falcons could potentially be more impacted by this weather, coming from a warmer climate and a domed field. No one sees a major downgrade here, but with a tough defense for the New York Jets, it is hard to trust any of the Falcons anyway. For the Jets, it is a Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson show, but that is probably it.
Arizona Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Mid-50s
- Showers: 30% chance at kickoff increasing throughout
- Wind: 10-20 mph southwesterly
Things could get spicy at Acrisure Stadium with the potential for heavy rains and buffeting winds. The passing games for both of these offenses could see a huge downgrade in what could be a run-dominated contest. The weather forecast here plays heavily into the hands of Jaylen Warren, Najee Harris, James Conner, and even Kyler Murray with his legs.
From a passing perspective, George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Marquise Brown, and Trey McBride all see a downgrade, assuming the final two are even active. This game could be an ugly watch and a low-scoring contest where fantasy value is limited. The kicking games could also be hard to rely on this week in winds reaching over 15 mph at times.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-50s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 11 mph westerly
The weather forecast for the NFL game in Tennessee between the Titans and Indianapolis Colts is tough to judge. The winds overall shouldn’t be too much of an issue, but we could see periods of gusts that have an impact.
The forecast doesn’t look bad enough to a point where you are downgrading either the passing or kicking game. However, if the winds do have an impact, expect to see plenty of Derrick Henry and Zack Moss in this contest. Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and DeAndre Hopkins should still see plenty of targets though.
Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Mid-50s
- Showers: 15% chance at kickoff decreasing throughout the game
- Wind: 5 mph westerly
While there could be some rain impacting the game in Washington, the forecast looks reasonably nice from a fantasy perspective. The winds should be low, and there is a chance we do not see any rain at all. There is no reason here to be downgrading anyone in the passing games, which could put Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Tua Tagovailoa in line for monster performances.
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-70s
- Showers: 25% chance at kickoff decreasing throughout the game
- Wind: 8 mph southwesterly
We should also have a relatively nice day in Florida when the Carolina Panthers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There might be some rain around early in this one, but it shouldn’t be all that disruptive. Continue as you normally would here.
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles | Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-40s
- Showers: 25% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 3-5 mph westerly
It could be a little wet and windy at times during the game in Lincoln Financial Field between the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles. However, there should be little to no major impact on the main fantasy option in this game with the winds likely to be fleeting and the rain expected to be low-level at best.
Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers | Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Low-30s
- Showers: 10-15% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 8 mph southwesterly
Fantasy managers will be thanking their lucky stars and keeping their fingers crossed when looking at the Lambeau Field weather forecast. If this game was played in the earlier windows, we could see some snow and windy conditions, which would hurt the fantasy options in this game.
MORE: Kyle Soppe’s Week 13 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
However, the wind is expected to clear by 7 p.m. ET, and the field will be covered for as long as it needs to be ahead of the game. Therefore, we should not see any major disruption to this game from a fantasy perspective.
Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars | Monday, 8:15 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Low-60s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 10 mph westerly
Things could get a little windy in Jacksonville on Monday night, but the current forecast does not suggest there is any major reason to downgrade fantasy options in this contest. If the game had been played 24 hours earlier, we may have seen some wind, rain, and thunder, but that is not the case based on the current forecast for Monday.
Games Played in Stadiums With a Retractable Roof
- Denver Broncos at Houston Texans | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Rams | Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
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