As we get closer to the end of December, a lot of eyes are going to remain fixed on the NFL weather forecasts and reports. What you are looking for likely depends on if your fantasy football season is still alive. Those still playing want a clear forecast, while those who have been eliminated will be hoping for some of the craziness that snow-impacted games can bring.
Let’s take a look at the Week 15 NFL weather report as we examine what impact the forecast could have on the 12 NFL games taking place across Sunday and Monday.
Weather forecasts are up to date as of 11:25 a.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. Forecasts for the games are from the National Weather Service.
Week 15 NFL Weather Report and Fantasy Impact
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Low-50s
- Showers: >90% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 18 mph northeasterly with gusts up to 32 mph
We kick off what is going to be a wet and windy set of games with the Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers matchup in North Carolina. The rain itself would not be a major problem, but when you combine it with sustained winds that could reach over 20 mph during the game and gusts that will start around 28 mph and grow to 32 mph during the game, it becomes more of an issue.
Both passing games and kicking could struggle significantly here in what is a reasonably open bowl at the Bank of America Stadium. The Northeast winds will be a crosswind and won’t massively favor any one direction, which is the worst possible combination. There are limited passing options you would even consider in this game, but even the likes of Adam Thielen and Drake London are players you should think twice before starting.
This game should be one where we see a lot of the run games. Bijan Robinson and Chuba Hubbard carry the most value, with both Miles Sanders and Tyler Allgeier likely to see increased volume with these conditions.
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Mid-40s
- Showers: >90% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 18 mph southerly
The current weather forecast is expecting us to see plenty of rain in Cleveland during their Week 15 NFL game with the Chicago Bears. The slight silver lining is that while we will see sustained winds of around 15-18 mph, there should not be the same gusting conditions we are expecting elsewhere on the East Coast this week.
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This game could still have some suppression of the passing and kicking games, but not to the same extent we may see elsewhere. The wind will be mostly a crosswind but could slightly favor the team playing toward the southern end of the stadium. The likes of DJ Moore, Amari Cooper, and David Njoku should still be usable here based on the current forecast.
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-70s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 20 mph southerly with gusts up to 35 mph
The worst of the weather in Miami should have dissipated by kickoff, according to the current forecasts. The wind speed in the area is projected to decrease during the game, with the worst of the wind being present around kickoff.
Generally, the roof at Hard Rock shelters the field quite nicely from the elements. You still get some impact, more from the winds swirling a little inside the roof structure, but the effect is nowhere near as pronounced as we see at some of the more open stadiums. There might be a slight impact on the passing games in this one, but the bigger concern is the injury issue for Tyreek Hill rather than the impact of the weather.
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Low-50s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff increasing throughout the game
- Wind: 10 mph easterly
One area on the East Coast that appears to be missing the worst of the weather is Foxborough. The rain threat will increase throughout the game and could be a nuisance, but nothing more than that. The real positive in this game is that the wind is not expected to pick up all that much as the rain moves in. There is no reason to be concerned about your fantasy options in this game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Low-40s
- Showers: 30% chance at kickoff dropping throughout the game
- Wind: 10 mph westerly
We will have the reverse of Foxborough up in Lambeau Field this week in terms of the rain. The game could start with some precipitation, but the worst of it should be gone by halftime based on the current forecast. However, much like Foxborough, there is not expected to be much wind in Lambeau, and this should be a fine game for fantasy managers this week.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Mid-50s
- Showers: <10% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 8 mph northwesterly
It is looking like a perfectly pleasant afternoon in Nashville with little to no rain and relatively calm winds. From a weather perspective, there is no reason to have any major concern about the weather having a major impact on this game.
Dallas Cowboys at Buffalo Bills | Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: Low-50s
- Showers: 80% chance at kickoff increasing throughout the game
- Wind: 10 mph southerly decreasing throughout the game
At one point this week, fantasy managers of CeeDee Lamb, Stefon Diggs, and co. were looking at the Buffalo forecast with trepidation. However, the closer we get, the more the weather forecast improves. There might be some wind around early, but it should die down during the game. The rain is forecasted to increase throughout the game, but alone, that is not a major concern.
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If you have the likes of Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Brandin Cooks, Lamb, Diggs, Tyler Bass, or Brandon Aubrey on your fantasy team, you can breathe a sigh of relief and start them as normal.
Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars | Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-50s
- Showers: 20% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 20 mph westerly with gusts up to 30 mph
The final game of Sunday down in Jacksonville could be another that is impacted by the rain. The wind direction has seemingly changed to a crosswind from east to west after being projected to be a southerly wind earlier in the week.
This could absolute havoc for kickers and passing games this week. If the wind is as strong as forecast, it could render pass-catchers and kickers almost unusable form a fantasy perspective this week.
This weather should boost the value of Gus Edwards, Keaton Mitchell, Travis Etienne Jr., and even D’Ernest Johnson if both teams lean on the ground game more. Lamar Jackson will likely use his legs more if the passing game is hampered, so he should have reasonable value. Trevor Lawrence and the pass catchers could see their value reduced in these conditions.
Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Expected Temperature: High-40s
- Showers: 80% chance at kickoff
- Wind: 5 mph southeasterly
The current weather forecast has it looking like a wet Monday evening in Seattle for this Eagles vs. Seahawks matchup. However, the lack of wind should mean that the impact is not too high. Therefore, fantasy managers should feel confident starting their main options, at least based on the current forecast.
Games Played in Stadiums With a Retractable Roof
- New York Giants at New Orleans Saints | Sunday, 1 p.m.
- San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals | Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
- Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Rams | Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
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