RADIO
Adam's Week 18 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.
Welcome to Week 18. Not everyone is done playing fantasy football and there are also lots of DFS contests going on this week. 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 18 of the 2024 season.
Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge #2 is back with a massive $100,000 grand prize and $203,250 total prize pool, paying down to 100th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 8 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 17th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $100,000! Sign Up Now!
Dome Games (No Weather Impact)
Some games in Week 18 will benefit from being played in domed stadiums, where the weather won't affect the outcome. These indoor venues provide a consistent environment.
- Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
- Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
- Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
- Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
- Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
Minimal Weather Impact
These outdoor games in Week 18 don't appear to have very many weather concerns.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (Saturday, 1/4 at 4:30 p.m. ET)
It'll be cold and quite breezy when the Cleveland Browns travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. Highs are expected to be in the low 30s but the real feel temperature will hover in the high teens as a result of the brisk winds. Sustained winds are forecast to be around 15 miles per hour (mph) with gusts as high as 35 mph. That could certainly affect the kicking game in this one. Look elsewhere for your kicker this week.
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday, 1/4 at 8:00 p.m. ET)
The Steelers have something to play for this week and the Bengals will do their best to play spoiler. This game features the second-highest over/under (48.5) on the Week 18 slate. It'll be very cold in the Steel City, but there's just a 5% chance of precipitation with winds expected to be relatively light all things considered (around 10 mph sustained). We used to worry about Joe Burrow's wrist in the cold temperatures, but that was unwarranted and no longer a concern.
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 1/5 at 1:00 p.m. ET)
Saquon Barkley won't get a chance at the rushing title after head coach Nick Sirianni announced most of his starters won't play in Week 18 vs. the Giants. For the game conditions, it looks like it'll be around 30 degrees with sustained winds around 10 mph. There's a 0% chance of precipitation with winds gusting as high as 25 mph. If you're playing anyone in this game, the weather doesn't appear to be a concern whatsoever.
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 1/5 at 1:00 p.m. ET)
The Packers will be playing for seeding in their game vs. the Chicago Bears on Sunday. It'll be a cold one, with high temperatures hovering around 20 degrees. But winds will be light and there's just an 8% chance of precipitation. For a January day in Green Bay, Wis., it's not bad at all. Josh Jacobs could have a field day in this one.
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (Sunday, 1/5 at 1:00 p.m. ET)
It'll be cold and breezy at Gillette Stadium for the Bills and Patriots game, but nothing these teams haven't seen before. High temperatures will be in the mid-30s with winds gusting up to 30 mph. It'll be a partly sunny day, however, so it'll feel like summer for these two cold-weather squads. Lots of starters will be rested in this one, as is shown in the 38-point over/under. Does rookie Ray Davis get showcased in Week 18?
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 1/5 at 1:00 p.m. ET)
It'll be a picture-perfect day in southwest Florida when the Bucs play host to the New Orleans Saints. It'll be 75 degrees with light winds and a 0% chance of precipitation. There will be no weather impacts whatsoever in this one. Fire up all your offensive starters, especially those on the Tampa Bay side of the ball.
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 1/5 at 4:25 p.m. ET)
The Denver Broncos are currently 10.5-point favorites when they play host to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. It's shaping up to be a cold, but beautiful day for football in Denver, Colo. High temperatures will hover around the low-40s with light winds and partly cloudy skies. Denver still has an outside shot at making the playoffs, so Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton, and heck, even Marvin Mims Jr. have some value in Week 18 going against the Chiefs second and third units.
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets (Sunday, 1/5 at 4:25 p.m. ET)
It'll be around 35 degrees with light winds in East Rutherford, N.J., when the Jets play host to the warm-weather Miami Dolphins. It's unclear who exactly will be playing in this game, but the weather won't have any impact at all on the outcome. Could this be Aaron Rodgers' last game as a Jet?
Severe Weather Impact
Let's focus on matchups where weather conditions could substantially influence the game.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1/5 at 1:00 p.m. ET)
It looks like it'll be rainy and breezy in Nashville, Tenn., when the Titans play host to the Houston Texans. Around a half-inch of rain is expected during the day with sustained winds around 15 mph. According to current weather forecasts, gusts could get up to as much as 40 mph. This game looks like the only one that could have weather conditions impact gameplay. The deep passing game and kicking game could suffer as a result for both squads. Do we dare fade Calvin Ridley?
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
