With Week 17 fantasy football championships on the line, the NFL weather forecast could be pivotal in your chances of advancing in cities like Buffalo, Cincinnati, and across the league. With the days getting shorter and colder, the odds of poor weather reports for NFL games increase for Week 17. As with tradition, we break down the slate and see what the NFL weather forecast and report will look like for Week 17 and how it might impact your fantasy football team.
NFL Weather Forecast and Report | Week 17
For most of us, championships are decided before Week 17. However, some still have to sweat it out one more week. With no Thursday night or Monday Night Football, Sunday is going to be a jam-packed day. Unfortunately for us, the weather that mostly stayed away all season will be around for the 1:00 PM ET slate. Mainly, games in Buffalo and the Northeast will see the weather make an appearance in Week 17.
Please note that all times are eastern standard time, and the NFL Week 17 weather report will be updated if any changes happen from the time of writing this up to kickoff. The NFL weather forecast for Week 17 is based on information from the National Weather Service.
No Weather Report/Forecast
Indoor Games in Week 17
Because these NFL games are indoors, the weather conditions can be controlled, and as such, the only forecast and reports are that it will be optimal playing conditions for these teams. The passing and kicking game will not be affected.
- Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (Sunday 1:00 PM ET)
- Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday 4:25 PM ET in Arizona)
- Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (Sunday 4:25 PM ET)
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts (Sunday 4:25 PM ET)
- Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (Sunday 4:25 PM ET)
NFL Week 17 Weather Forecast: The Northeast and Buffalo get cold and wet one last time
Dallas Cowboys (6-9) at New York Giants (5-10)
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Motivation will be an over-arching theme of Week 17, and fantasy will be impacted. Something we have to pay attention to is if teams have something to play for in Week 17. If they don’t, then there is no reason to have their best players on the field. If they need a particular result to change a playoff seeding or even get in, we have a different story. That is what we have in this matchup. Both the Cowboys and the Giants have a chance to make it into the playoffs.
First, they have to win this game. Then, they both need Philadelphia to beat Washington on Sunday night. For fantasy, this is great because it means we will be everything they have. But that isn’t saying a lot right now. Sure, Ezekiel Elliott just topped 100 rushing yards for the second time this year, but this is still a hard offense to have faith in every week.
The NFL weather forecast for Week 17 won’t help ease those concerns either. 38-degree temperatures will feel closer to freezing thanks to six mph winds. On top of that, it will be wet. Nothing substantial (less than a 10th) but a constant drizzle will be more annoying to those playing. There is a 90% chance we see some snow falling before or right up to kickoff. All of this will be more of a nuisance than having an enormous impact on the game.
Miami Dolphins (10-5) at Buffalo Bills (12-3)
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Win and get in. That’s the mindset for the Dolphins — a team on the precipice of the playoffs for only the second time in 12 years. They will go all out, though I am not overly excited to play any of them in fantasy. Tua Tagovailoa will start, and honestly, he is the lesser option for fantasy. He keeps them in games, but he has yet to take the risks we like to see that allow for fantasy success at other positions.
What worries me for Buffalo is their playoff scenario. The Bills can lock up the second seed with a win or a Steelers loss. Pittsburgh is playing Cleveland and is starting Mason Rudolph. They have also ruled out Cam Heyward, Maurkice Pouncey, and T.J. Watt. Then on Saturday, CB Joe Haden, TE Eric Ebron, and LB Cassius Marsh were all placed on the NFL’s reserved list.
These games are going on at the same time. If they look up at the scoreboard and see Pittsburgh losing (very likely), they will pull their starters. If you start any fantasy-relevant Bills’ players, you need to be okay with whatever they can get in the first half. I don’t know if they will see a second.
Then there is the weather forecast for Week 17 in the NFL, whose report is less than ideal but typical for the Buffalo area. Cloudy skies and 38-degree temperatures are forecasted along with six mph winds. That’s nothing. The only concern is for wintery mix that will fall during the game and drop around one to two-tenths of a wet slush on Orchard Park. It’s nothing foreign to these teams or that will have any massive impact if it happens.
Unless you know they are benching Josh Allen or Stefon Diggs, you have to play them. But, the Buffalo weather, Miami defense, and playoff scenario are all working against them and you in Week 17.
Washington Football Team (6-9) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-10-1)
Sunday 8:20 PM ET
This game is as simple as it gets, win and you’re in for Washington as they clinch the NFC East. Questions surround how much Antonio Gibson will play. He did not practice Friday and played in just 30% of the snaps in his first game back (turf toe).
The Eagles are also a solid defense vs. the run. They are 11th in fantasy points allowed to RBs at 21.47 per game. He is a high-risk RB2. The big thing I want to see if what is the final impression Jalen Hurts will make on this season. He has shown his athleticism but also some inaccuracies. Those will come in time as he is going to make his fourth career start. A solid performance could solidify him as the teams’ starter for Week 1 in 2021. He is my QB11 in dynasty formats, one spot ahead of Tua.
For this Sunday night NFL game in Week 17, the weather forecast is calling for 38-degree temperatures, cloudy skies, and eight mph winds. There is a 60% chance we see scattered showers for this game. Expected totals are less than a 10th of an inch. The weather for this game should be better than what we see in Buffalo even though these two have the worst forecasts of the slate.
NFL Week 17 Weather Forecast: Chances of rain
New York Jets (2-13) at New England Patriots (6-9)
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
The Jets are on a win-streak, and the Patriots are out of the playoff picture. Wow. I know this is a fantasy article, and I look for the intriguing storylines and plays but honestly, do you really even care? You aren’t trying to win a championship using players in this matchup.
Sure, Jamison Crowder is somewhat intriguing. He hauled in 7-of-9 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown last week and even threw for one too. Stephon Gilmore is out for the game, but Crowder is still a low-end WR3. Other than him, I wouldn’t get too cute, and instead, start looking at these players with a dynasty focus in mind since both teams will have new QBs in 2021.
When looking at the Week 17 weather report for the Jets vs. Patriots game, look for cloudy skies, six mph winds, and 38-degree temperatures. There is also a 50% chance we see a light drizzle at the start of the game and up to half time. Those chances do taper off as the game moves on. There is no expectation for any real accumulation, unlike the weather in Buffalo.
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) at Cleveland Browns (10-5)
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
This game could get ugly quickly. As I mentioned above with the Bills game, the Steelers are both resting and missing guys. They are starting Rudolph and are just wanting to get healthy for next week. Avoid them if you can for fantasy. Sure, one of the WRs could have a decent game but good luck guessing who it will be. If the Browns win, they can snag the final wild card spot. Safe to say they will fight for everything they can. Yes, that was a Myles Garrett joke.
Expect 38-degree temperatures, five mph winds, and cloudy in Cleveland for the weather forecast in Week 17. There is also a 60% chance of scattered showers for the first half of this game. As it progresses, the chances taper off with no accumulation forecasted.
Baltimore Ravens (10-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-10-1)
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Thanks to a combination of four-straight wins and Cleveland losing to the Jets, the Ravens can win and get in against the hapless Bengals. The Bengals allow the fourth-most rushing yards per game to RBs (115.5) and expect the Ravens to exploit this weakness. Also, Lamar Jackson is finally looking like his old self, rushing for 333 yards in his last four games. It’s hard to see how they will slow him or this offense down.
The Week 17 weather forecast for Cincinnati is nearly identical to the one in Cleveland. 38-degree temperatures, seven mph winds, cloudy skies, and a 50% chance for some scatters showers with little to no accumulation.
Worry-Free NFL Weather Forecasts for Week 17: Early Slate
Atlanta Falcons (4-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5)
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
For some reason, people don’t seem to believe Calvin Ridley is an elite WR yet. How about this fun fact. In the six games without Julio Jones in the lineup, Ridley is on pace for 350 PPR points and over 1,900 yards. He averages 21.88 PPR points, seven receptions, 118.8 yards on 11 targets in those contests. Julio is once again out, and Ridley is my WR2 for fantasy in Week 17.
When looking at the NFL weather report, look for mostly cloudy skies, six mph winds, and 70-degree temperatures. A welcome departure than the expected weather in Buffalo.
Official Monkey Fight Play: Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Calvin Ridley to have more than 57.5 PPR points for a 2x in the Fantasy Challenge.
Worry-Free NFL Weather Forecasts for Week 17: Afternoon games
Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) at Denver Broncos (9-6)
Sunday 4:25 PM ET
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs set a new career-high for TDs in 2020 (10) and is 24-yards away from hitting 1,000 for the second time in as many seasons played. He gets a Broncos defense that allows over 100 yards per game on the ground.
When looking at the NFL weather report, look for mostly cloudy skies, 11 mph winds tapering to around seven mph, and448-degree temperatures.
Los Angeles Chargers (6-9) at Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
Sunday 4:25 PM ET
QB Patrick Mahomes leads a group of Chiefs players who will rest for the next two weeks. Joining him are WR Tyreek Hill, RB Cylde Edwards-Helaire, and WR Sammy Watkins. Le’Veon Bell is questionable, and it’s hard to see TE Travis Kelce playing much at all. This is what happens when you play fantasy in Week 17. Also, Keenan Allen is out for the Chargers this week as he was placed on the NFL’s reserve list.
When looking at the Week 17 weather report for the Chargers vs. Chiefs game, expect 38-degree temperatures, calm winds, and sunny skies.
Green Bay Packers (12-) at Chicago Bears (8-7)
Sunday 4:25 PM ET
Green Bay is playing for the top spot in the NFC, including a first-round bye and the home-field advantage. Not only can they do that, but they can also be the final nail in the coffin for the Bears’ playoff chances. Trust me; this is not a fact that is lost on their bitter NFC North rivals.
Expect 32-degree temperatures, seven mph winds, and partly cloudy skies in Chicago for the weather forecast in Week 17.
New Orleans Saints (11-4) at Carolina Panthers (5-10)
Sunday 4:25 PM ET
The Saints’ RB room was decimated late in the week. Alvin Kamara tested positive. Then Latavius Murray, Michael Burton, Dwayne Washington were all listed as close contacts, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The team activated Tony Jones Jr. off the practice squad, who will serve as the primary backup to Ty Montgomery.
When looking at the NFL weather report, look for partly sunny skies, seven mph winds, and 56-degree temperatures. A balmy day when compared to the Buffalo weather earlier on Sunday.
Monkey Knight Fight lock of the Week
Davante Adams, Jonathan Taylor, and Derrick Henry to have more than 2.5 TDs for a 1.5x price in the Star Shootout.
If you want to go higher, the 3.5 TD goal will bring a 4x prize. The ability to choose your goal is part of the beauty of Monkey Knife Fight. Only play this contest after using Monkey Knife Fight promo code PFN — it could make for a quite profitable week! You can’t find another DFS site that allows you to find matchups like this.
I will likely have as much riding on this prop as all of my others combined.
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Tommy Garrett is a writer for PFN covering Fantasy Football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.