Week 14 of the 2023 NFL season looks as though it could be wet, cold, and windy, especially during the early window of games. The weather forecasts for this week’s NFL games have seen some fluctuation, but as we get closer to kickoff, what can we expect from the conditions around the various games?
Let’s examine the Week 14 NFL weather report and see whether any of the forecasts could have a fantasy football impact.
Weather forecasts are up to date as of 5 a.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. Forecasts for the games are from the National Weather Service.
Week 14 NFL Weather Report and Fantasy Impact
Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-50s
- Showers: 95% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 10 mph southerly with gusts up to 21 mph
It does not look like being a very pleasant day at M&T Bank Stadium where we are expecting wind and rain in the game between the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens. The only slight saving grace here is that the temperature is at least going to be reasonably mild.
The forecasted base winds at 10 mph are not a major issue for the passing and kicking games. The issue will be those gusts reaching upwards of 20 mph. Those can be hard to predict in terms of their impacts. Gusts are by their nature reasonably inconsistent. Therefore, we could see the odd pass or kick heavily affected and then less impact from the wind on others.
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The final week of the fantasy football regular season makes this a tough one. Instinct would say to give the likes of Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Zay Flowers, and Justin Tucker a slight downgrade with the potential conditions. However, it is hard to imagine benching that group, especially Nacua and Tucker, if you are in a must-win game.
If the wind does start to impact the passing game we could see more of both run games. All three of the main RBs — Kyren Williams, Gus Edwards, and Keaton Mitchell — should see plenty of usage. Of the QBs, you may consider being cautious with Matthew Stafford, but Lamar Jackson’s ability with his legs makes him someone you are not downgrading too much.
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Mid-30s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 13 mph northwesterly with gusts up to 20 mph
The conditions up in Soldier Field should be drier than down in Baltimore, but the winds could be an issue. Additionally, we are replacing the wet weather with cold and potentially freezing weather. In some ways, cold and windy is worse than wet and windy, because the cold can have an impact on the flight of the ball as well.
In terms of the fantasy impact here, the run games should be heavily involved if these winds do prove a nuisance. For the Lions, that means you are starting both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. It also could mean that all three of Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, and Roschon Johnson could see enough volume to have fantasy relevance.
The passing and kicking games are less reliable. It might be safe to avoid both kickers completely, and of the pass catchers, it is hard to trust anyone outside of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and maybe DJ Moore. Of the two QBs, Justin Fields becomes the safer play in these conditions with his ability to utilize his legs if the passing game is impacted.
Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-30s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 10 mph westerly
The weather in Cincinnati this week has perhaps been the most changeable when it comes to the forecasts. We have seen wind, rain, snow, and freezing temperatures all forecast at one time or another. As of Saturday, the weather looks better than it has at any other time of the week, with winds just touching 10 mph and little in the way of precipitation.
The intriguing element is that there is some forecast for snow ahead of the game. That could spark concern if we see pictures from the stadium of snow falling. However, current forecasts for the Cincinnati area have the snow moving away ahead of kickoff and leaving slightly blustery conditions but nothing overly dramatic.
Barring a change in the forecast through Sunday morning, you should be safe to start your main pass-catching options in this game.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Low-40s
- Showers: 15-20% chance at kickoff increasing throughout the game
- Wind: 17 mph easterly with gusts up to 28 mph
According to the Week 14 forecast in Cleveland, it looks like we could be in for a blustery start to the game between the Jaguars and Browns. However, the current forecast has any threat of gusts dropping away right around kickoff, which is a positive. Although the 17-20 mph winds it leaves behind are far from ideal.
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Scoring in this game could be pushed down a little, but it is not as bad as it once looked. You may want to refrain from leaning too much on the Cleveland Browns’ passing game with the QB situation’s uncertainty. Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence’s injury could be enough reason to show some caution around the Jaguars’ pass catchers this week.
Something worth monitoring is that there is some snow forecast for the Cleveland area on Sunday afternoon. It shouldn’t come until the game ends, but there is an outside chance we could see it start to fall in the fourth quarter. It should not impact the game too much, but it adds a hint of concern around the passing and kicking options in this game.
Houston Texans at New York Jets | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-50s
- Showers: >90% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 15 mph southerly with gusts up to 31 mph
We have seen plenty of wet days in MetLife Stadium this year, and Week 14 seems to be no different. The current forecast has rain falling throughout, which would be no major issue if 15+ mph winds did not accompany it. Adding to the complication is that we could start to see 30 mph gusts sweeping across the stadium in the second half.
In terms of fantasy options, the weather might be enough to keep you away from Garrett Wilson with the chaos around the QB position with the Jets. For the Texans, with Noah Brown dealing with an injury and the poor weather, Nico Collins may be the only reliable pass-catching option in this game.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers | Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Low-60s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 6 mph easterly
It looks like we should have a nice afternoon in Levi’s Stadium as the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks face off. There is no reason to downgrade anyone in this game based on the current weather forecasts.
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs | Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Low-40s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 6-8 mph westerly
The story is similar in Kansas City, where we may see slightly elevated winds but nothing that will raise major concerns. This should be good news for those with Travis Kelce, Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Rashee Rice, Tyler Bass, and Harrison Butker on their rosters. There is no reason to downgrade anyone here.
Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins | Monday, 8:15 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-60s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 14 mph northerly with gusts up to 18 mph
It looks like the wind could continue to be the story on Monday with the game between the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans potentially set to be affected. The roof of Hard Rock Stadium offers some protection, so the full effect of those winds should not be felt down on the field.
We could see the odd moment where the ball behaves strangely in the wind, but for the Dolphins’ stars, it is not a major concern. The weather forecast for Monday of Week 14 down in Miami does potentially make you think twice about DeAndre Hopkins, but that is more a concern about the Titans’ offense than the weather itself.
Green Bay Packers at New York Giants | Monday, 8:15 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-30s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 14 mph westerly with gusts up to 25 mph
After a wet and windy day in MetLife on Sunday, Monday evening looks a little better for the battle between the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants. The worst of the weather should have cleared the area before the game kicks off. However, there is still a little concern that the weather could hang around with gusts up to 25 mph, as well as rain, forecast heading into kickoff.
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From a fantasy perspective, there are not many Giants’ receiving options you are likely relying on here. The biggest impact could be on the Packers’ receivers if the wind causes issues. With the confusion over which Packers’ pass catcher will have an impact week-to-week, it might be smart to avoid the situation altogether.
Games Played in Stadiums With a Retractable Roof
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Minnesota Vikings at Las Vegas Raiders | Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
- Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers | Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
- Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys | Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
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