The Philadelphia Eagles head up to Buffalo for a clash between two teams with Super Bowl aspirations. Unfortunately, Mother Nature is not about to let this game be played under perfect conditions. With snow, rain, and win in the forecast, here is a look at what it might mean for both teams, as well as the potential fantasy football implications.
Weather Forecast for Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills — NFL Week 17
- Kickoff: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
- Expected Temperature: 40 degrees
- Rain: 100%
- Wind: 5 mph SE
*Forecast information taken at 10:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, December 28.
What the Weather Forecast Means for Each Team
Despite a scare, Josh Allen will lead out the Buffalo Bills against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and is believed to have no restrictions. That will be important, as the game conditions point to a lot more running than passing.
The Bills and Eagles are already two of the most run heavy teams in the league. They rank fifth and seventh, respectively, in neutral game script run rate. Wet and slick conditions are not about to make either team changes its ways.
Saquon Barkley and James Cook are two of the most talented running backs in the league. Expect both players to handle heavy workloads.
How the Weather Could Impact Fantasy Football
The impact of rain is often overstated by fantasy managers and football fans alike. It is wind that is typically more of a problem. We don’t have any wind concerns in this game. It’s just rain.
With that said, the rain could be heavy at times, and it is obviously a lot easier to throw and catch a football when it is dry.
Given the propensity of both teams to want to call as few pass plays as possible, combined with the fact that both teams are run funnel defenses, this game projects for a lot of rush attempts.
Allen and Hurts are two of the best QBs in fantasy. But both need to be downgraded given the forecast and what each coaching staff wants to do.
You probably can’t bench A.J. Brown, but expectations must be tempered. DeVonta Smith is very much a candidate for being left out of lineups, though. He hasn’t gone over 50 receiving yards in over a month and is unlikely to even hit WR3 numbers without a touchdown.
On the Bills’ side of things, there is not a single player on this team worth even the faintest of fantasy consideration outside of Allen and Cook. Buffalo has one of the weakest group of wide receivers in the league. Khalil Shakir is the only one worth being on fantasy rosters, but he cannot be trusted.
Finally, it should go without saying, but avoid both kickers.
