If you’re still reading analysis articles on Fantasy Sharks, congratulation is in order since you’re probably in the thick of your league’s playoffs or in the championship game. 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 Thursday, Dec. 18th) 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.
Indianapolis @ Jacksonville, Dec. 18th, 7:15 PM EST
Temperature: 62 – 670 F
Wind: 1-4 mph E/SE
Condition: 0% chance of rain
Advice: No change.
Baltimore @ Dallas, Dec. 20th, 7:15 PM CST
Temperature: 39 – 520 F
Wind: 12-15 mph N
Condition: 20% chance of rain
Advice: No change. Weather won’t have much a factor because Texas stadium is mostly indoors.
Cincinnati @ Cleveland, Dec. 21st, 1:00 PM EST
Temperature: 24 – 290 F
Wind: 20-21 mph S/SE
Condition: 65% – 73% chance of snow showers
Advice: Upgrade the defenses and running game. Downgrade the passing and kicking games.
New Orleans @ Detroit, Dec. 21st, 1:00 PM EST
Indoors
Advice: Slightly downgrade the defenses. Upgrade the passing and kicking games.
Miami @ Kansas City, Dec. 21st, 12:00 PM CST
Temperature: 66 – 680 F
Wind: 17-20 mph NW
Condition: 10% – 17% chance of rain
Advice: Slightly upgrade the defenses and running game. Slightly downgrade the passing and kicking games.
Arizona @ New England, Dec. 21st, 1:00 PM EST
Temperature: 36 – 400F
Wind: 11-12 mph E/NE
Condition: 75% – 95% chance of snow and rain
Advice: There should be some heavy winter weather in the morning before game-time, but it looks like it will warm up a bit before kickoff. However, the field will be ugly and possibly covered with snow/ice. Upgrade the defenses. Slightly upgrade the running games. Downgrade the passing and kicking games.
San Francisco @ St. Louis, Dec. 21st, 12:00 PM CST
Indoors
Advice: Slightly downgrade the defenses. Upgrade the passing and kicking games.
Pittsburgh @ Tennessee, Dec. 21st, 12:00 PM CST
Temperature: 31 – 340 F
Wind: 15-16 mph W/NW
Condition: 27% chance of rain and snow
Advice: Slightly upgrade the defenses and running games. Slightly downgrade the kicking games. Downgrade the passing games.
San Diego @ Tampa Bay, Dec. 21st, 1:00 PM EST
Temperature: 69 – 740 F
Wind: 6 mph SE/SW
Condition: 5-10% chance of rain
Advice: No change
Buffalo @ Denver, Dec. 21st, 2:05 PM MST
Temperature: 8 – 110 F
Wind: 1-2 mph NE/SE
Condition: 0% chance of rain
Advice: Slightly upgrade the defenses and running games.
Houston @ Oakland, Dec. 21st, 1:05 PM PST
Temperature: 45 – 490 F
Wind: 7-9 mph S/SE
Condition: 26% chance of rain
Advice: Slightly upgrade defenses.
New York Jets @ Seattle, Dec. 21st, 1:05 PM PST
Temperature: 26 – 320 F
Wind: 8-11 mph E/SE
Condition: 64% chance of snow
Advice: Upgrade the defenses and running games. Slightly downgrade the passing and kicking games.
Atlanta @ Minnesota, Dec. 21st, 3:15 PM CST
Indoors
Advice: Slightly downgrade the defenses. Upgrade the passing and kicking games.
Philadelphia @ Washington, Dec. 21st, 4:15 PM EST
Temperature: 32 – 350 F
Wind: 4-5 mph N/NW
Condition: 80% chance of rain and snow
Advice: Slightly upgrade the defenses. Slightly downgrade the passing games.
Carolina @ New York Giants, Dec. 21st, 8:15 PM EST
Temperature: 30 – 340 F
Wind: 5-10 mph NE
Condition: 70% chance of rain and snow
Advice: Slightly upgrade the defenses and running games. Slightly downgrade the passing games.
Green Bay @ Chicago, Dec. 22nd, 7:30 PM CST
Temperature: 14 – 160 F
Wind: 8-15 mph W
Condition: 11% chance of snow
Advice: Slightly upgrade the defenses and running games.