If you’re still reading analysis articles on Fantasy Sharks, congratulations are in order since you’re probably in the thick of your league’s playoffs. But now isn’t the time to sit back and pat yourself on the back. It’s time to hunker down and pay attention to every little detail as there is no more room for even the slightest of errors. One detail often overlooked is weather conditions and how it will affect your players. Weather can be a big factor in games this time of year. So this week, we’ll take a look at the weather forecast for each game’s designated time slot (as of today) and how it should affect the teams’ passing, running, kicking and defensive games.
The upgrades and downgrades need to be used on a relative scale. For example, if we upgrade the Rams’ offense because the game is indoors and slightly downgrade Denver’s passing game because of 15 mph winds, it doesn’t mean you should start Marc Bulger over Jay Cutler. That should be obvious.
New Orleans @ Chicago
, Dec. 11th, 7:15 PM CST (8:15 EST)
Temperature: 26–29 F
Wind: 8-11 mph W
Condition: 13%–30% chance of snow
Advice: Slightly downgrade the passing and kicking games. Slightly upgrade the defenses. Upgrade the running games.
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta
, Dec. 14th, 1:00 PM EST
Indoors
Advice: Slightly downgrade the defenses. Upgrade the passing and kicking games.
Washington @ Cincinnati
, Dec. 14th, 1:00 PM EST
Temperature: 46–49 F
Wind: 6 mph S
Condition: 1%–10% chance of rain
Advice: Slightly upgrade the defenses.
Tennessee @ Houston, Dec. 14th, 12:00 PM CST (1:00 EST)
Temperature: 66–67 F
Wind: 10-13 mph S/SE
Condition: 1%–10% chance of rain
Advice: No change
Detroit @ Indianapolis
, Dec. 14th, 1:00 PM EST
Indoors
Advice: Slightly downgrade the defenses. Upgrade the passing and kicking games.
Green Bay @ Jacksonville, Dec. 14th, 1:00 PM EST
Temperature: 61–65 F
Wind: 7-8 mph E/NE
Condition: 7%–11% chance of rain
Advice: No change
San Diego @ Kansas City
, Dec. 14th, 12:00 PM CST (1:00 EST)
Temperature: 45–50 F
Wind: 13-16 mph S/SE
Condition: 21%–23% chance of rain
Advice: Slightly downgrade the passing and kicking games. Slightly upgrade the running games and defenses.
Buffalo @ New York Jets
, Dec. 14th, 1:00 PM EST
Temperature: 37–40 F
Wind: 1-3 mph SW
Condition: 10% chance of rain
Advice: Slightly upgrade the running games.
Seattle @ St. Louis
, Dec. 14th, 12:00 PM CST (1:00 EST)
Indoors
Advice: Slightly downgrade the defenses. Upgrade the passing and kicking games.
Minnesota @ Arizona, Dec. 14th, 2:05 PM MST (4:05 EST)
Temperature: 58–61 F
Wind: 6 mph W/SW
Condition: 26% chance of rain
Advice with roof open: No change
Advice with roof closed: Slightly downgrade the defenses. Upgrade the passing and kicking games.
Pittsburgh @ Baltimore
, Dec. 14th, 4:15 PM EST
Temperature: 39–42 F
Wind: 5-6 mph SW
Condition: 10% chance of rain
Advice: Slightly upgrade the running games.
Denver @ Carolina
, Dec. 14th, 4:15 PM EST
Temperature: 44–48 F
Wind: 2-5 mph E/SE
Condition: 8% chance of rain
Advice: No change
New England @ Oakland
, Dec. 14th, 1:15 PM PST (4:15 EST)
Temperature: 46–49 F
Wind: 5-6 mph W/S/SW
Condition: 46% chance of rain
Advice: Slightly downgrade the passing games. Slightly upgrade the running games and defenses.
New York Giants @ Dallas, Dec. 14th, 7:15 PM CST (8:15 EST)
Temperature: 59–65 F
Wind: 13 mph S
Condition: 14% chance of rain
Advice: Slightly downgrade the passing and kicking games. Slightly upgrade the running games and defenses.
Cleveland @ Philadelphia
, Dec. 15th, 8:30 PM EST
Temperature: 44–47 F
Wind: 0 mph
Condition: 14% chance of rain
Advice: No change