The NFL and the world of fantasy football head into Week 8 with our weekly weather report. Who doesn’t need more information to stress over? We break down the NFL slate, the weather forecast and report for Week 8, and if any of your fantasy football players could be impacted.
As always, good luck. Stay safe. And let’s win this week.
Note: All times are Eastern Time, and the NFL Week 8 weather report will be updated if any changes happen from the time of writing to kickoff. The NFL weather forecast for Week 8 is based on reporting from the National Weather Service. All betting lines are from the NFL’s official website.
NFL Weather Report and Forecast for Week 8: No hauntings in store for the Halloween weekend
It seems fitting the NFL slate falls on Halloween. The day where the voices of mistakes past haunt quarterbacks and the creek of footsteps follow any receiver daring enough to cross the middle of the field. The day where the eyes of players and coaches are deceived by the ghosts and shadows lurking beyond the mortal realm, dancing around the candlelit film studies where the air is thicker and fog hangs a bit lower than usual.
On a day where the veil between the worlds is pulled back, where shadows mutter, mist replies, darkness purrs as midnight sighs, the weather could give us all a fright. But as if the voices from beyond the grave chose to take pity on us, the weather across the slate is calm and quiet — almost, too quiet.
As “The Criminologist” once said, I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey as we delve into the depths of the Week 8 NFL slate and see if there will be more tricks or treats this week.
NFL Weather Report and Forecast for Week 8 games: Worry-free weather
After a wet and windy week, the Week 8 slate of games should be smooth sailing weather-wise.
Cincinnati Bengals (-11.5) at New York Jets, O/U 42.5 | Sunday 1:00 PM ET
The Bengals … are 11.5-point favorites. Perhaps someone needs to brush the dust off one of the old historical tombs because this has to be a first. But given how Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase continuously conjure magic, it’s fitting a team whose colors mirror the day should fortune favor. Expect the Bengals’ passing game to terrorize the Jets’ secondary. As for the Jets players, even I dare not test those fates with my fantasy life.
As for the Week 8 weather in East Rutherford, expect 60 degrees, partly cloudy skies, and 8 mph winds.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (-4.5), O/U 42.5 | Sunday 1:00 PM ET
If anything, Ben Roethlisberger should feel right at home today. His movement is identical to that of Herman Munster two days after leg day at the gym. Myles Garrett will look to add another tombstone to his ever-growing cemetery. This game will come down to the running backs, who are both must-starts for fantasy managers. Najee Harris is a volume monster (No. 2 in targets for RBs and No. 6 in rushes), and Nick Chubb is back in the lineup after a two-game absence (calf).
Cleveland’s Week 8 weather forecast should feature mostly sunny skies, 12 mph winds, and highs near 58 degrees on the eeriest day on Lake Erie.
San Francisco 49ers (-4) at Chicago Bears, O/U 39.5 | Sunday 1:00 PM ET
For at least one week, the conjured spell of Matt Nagy has been broken, as he will miss Chicago’s Week 8 matchup. Watch this be the game where Justin Fields shows us why he was so highly coveted heading into the draft. In doing so, he could give us great games from Allen Robinson (WR59) and Darnell Mooney (WR49). The question for fantasy managers to decide is whether or not starting any of these players will be a trick or a treat. Or perhaps, it’s all a bunch of hocus pocus.
As for the rest of the weather forecast in Chicago, expect partly cloudy skies, 13 mph winds with gusts near 20 mph at times, and 54-degree temperatures that will feel closer to 43 at kickoff. When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (-14), O/U 49 | 1:00 PM ET
The last team anyone the Dolphins want to see on Halloween is the Buffalo Bills. They find them in their dreams just as Freddy Krueger prolled around on Elm Street. There is even the narrative that Tua Tagovailoa is at the center of their issues when in reality, I don’t think so.
Over the last two games, he is the QB3 (25.5 points), completing 74.7% of his passes for 620 yards with 6 TDs to 3 INTs. I’ll say what Brian Flores seemingly cannot; Tua is and should be the Dolphins QB moving forward.
But don’t mistake what seems to be me pounding the drum as a signal of faith in Tua for this week for fantasy. I would steer away from the signal-caller as one would when the stray black cat is in your path. In PPR formats, Jaylen Waddle could be interesting as Tre’Davious White rarely comes into the slot. Also, Mike Gesicki has top-five TE upside, given his volume since Tua returned.
Expect 54-degree temperatures, 11 mph winds, and mostly cloudy skies in Buffalo for Week 8.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Seattle Seahawks (-4), O/U 44.5 | Sunday 4:05 PM ET
Do you remember when everyone was panic selling Jame Robinson at the start of the season? Fantasy managers that sold off on him at a bargain-basement price can now only find their fantasy playoff hopes if they bring out a Ouiji board and join hands around the table.
Robinson hasn’t seen fewer than 19 touches since Week 2 and is averaging 76.7 rushing and 19.3 receiving yards per game. Currently the No. 12 ranked RB (17.4 ppg), Robinson takes on a Seattle defense that is No. 31 in points allowed (31.4).
Expect 55-degree temperatures that will feel closer to 38 degrees, 4 mph winds, and clear skies in Seattle for Week 8.
Washington Football Team at Denver Broncos (-3.5), O/U 45 | Sunday 4:25 PM ET
Outside of Terry McLaurin, every other Washington player feels like someone who will leave you as disappointed as that house that hands out apples or, even worse, candy corn. Now that’s something that sends shivers up your spine. On the other side of the ball, the Broncos get an upgrade at WR in the return of Jerry Jeudy. He has been on the IR since Week 1 with an ankle injury.
The matchup is phenomenal. Washington is No. 31 in points allowed (45.81) and comes in at 29th in passing defense DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). I have Jeudy as a WR3 in his first game back, but given Tim Patrick’s success over the last season and a half, there is the possibility Denver opts to ease Jeudy back into action.
As for the weather forecast in Week 8, expect temperatures around 40 degrees that feel near freezing, cloudy skies, and 7 mph winds in Denver.
New York Giants at Kansas City Chiefs (-10), O/U 52 | Monday 8:15 PM ET
The Chiefs have serious issues they need to address if they want to make it to a third Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes, for as undeniably good as he is, seems like he is pressing. He knows that if he does not play perfectly, the Chiefs are in for a fight due to a defense that has more holes than a spider’s web.
Kansas City’s defense is bad as it gets, ranking bottom five in nearly every statistical category. When you’re giving up 29 points per game (27th), as a QB, you end up making throws you might not otherwise attempt and end up with a 2:1 TD-to-INT ratio. Will things get better? Sure. But the road to the Super Bowl now runs through Buffalo, not Arrowhead.
As far as the Giants go, their wide receiver corps has gone through more tape trying to keep these players together than the entire “Mummy” franchise. Both Kadarius Toney (ankle) and Sterling Shepard (hamstring) are questionable and game-time decisions. With this being a Monday night game, you need to be certain either of these players will actually suit up. And remember, there is an enormous difference between active and healthy.
Expect 42-degree temperatures, 2 mph winds, and cloudy skies in Kansas City in Week 8.
Week 8 indoor games
The teams below will play in optimal conditions, and there will be no effect on the passing and kicking game.
- Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)
O/U 51 | Sunday 1:00 PM ET - Los Angeles Rams (-14) at Houston Texans
O/U 46.5 | Sunday 1:00 PM ET - Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) at Detroit Lions
O/U 48 | Sunday 1:00 PM ET - Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (-3)
O/U 46 | Sunday 1:00 PM ET - New England Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers (-4.5)
O/U 49.5 | Sunday 4:05 PM ET - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4.5) at New Orleans Saints
O/U 48.5 | Sunday 4:25 PM ET - Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings (-3)
O/U 51.5 | Sunday 8:25 PM ET
Week 8 bye week teams
The following teams have a bye in Week 8. Be sure to double-check lineups to remove any impacted players.