You might think you don't have to worry about checking the Sunday weather forecast until later in the season when snow starts falling, but experienced fantasy football owners know that wind and rain can cause problems at any time. Sure enough, we have a little of both in the Week 1 forecast, but thankfully, RotoGrinders' meteorologist Kevin Roth is here to help us break down the key weather updates.
Before we get into the Week 1 forecasts, here's a reminder that if you have any questions about sports weather or how weather could impact play (and, potentially, your fantasy, DFS, and gambling decisions), don't hesitate to reach out to RotoGrinders' meteorologist Kevin Roth on Twitter (@KevinRothWx) or check out the hourly NFL weather forecasts on RotoGrinders. To take your game to the next level, subscribe to RotoGrinders' exclusive WeatherEdge tool and see how different weather conditions have impacted historical scoring.
NOTE: If a game isn't mentioned below, it's because it doesn't even have 10-mph winds or a 20-percent chance of precipitation in the forecast.
WEEK 1 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
NFL Week 1 weather forecast and updates
Forecasts courtesy of Kevin Roth at RotoGrinders
Texans @ Ravens. There's around a 50-percent chance of rain and winds in the 10-mph range for this one. That likely won't help the passing games, but it shouldn't have too much of an effect on fantasy decisions. Lamar Jackson is still a must-start, but all of the WRs would be risky even in perfect conditions, as we just don't know who's going to see the most targets. (Update: There's a slightly higher likelihood of rain, but winds should be milder than originally expected.)
49ers @ Steelers: Similar to the Ravens' game, there's around a 40-percent chance of rain, but wind isn't going to be a factor. There's no need to sit any of the key players in the receiving game (Deebo Samuel, George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle), but you can give these D/STs slight bumps. (Update: The likelihood of rain has decreased to just over 20 percent.)
WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Cardinals @ Commanders. Yet another East Coast game with a 50-percent chance of rain and 10-mph winds. Chances are, you didn't want to play anyone from the Cardinals' passing game anyway, but if you really want to use Marquise Brown, you can. Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson remain borderline must-starts, and the Commanders' D/ST is also a solid option.
WEEK 1 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Raiders @ Broncos. This game is far from the first three on the list, but the forecast is pretty much the same: 40-50 percent chance of rain and 10-mph winds. As long as there isn't a sudden downpour, there's no need to bench any key players from this game, including the kickers. (Update: The likelihood of rain has increased to 65 percent.)
WEEK 1 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Eagles @ Patriots. Stop us if you've heard this before: 50-percent chance of rain, 10-mph winds. All of Philly's offensive studs are still must-starts, and you can trot out JuJu Smith-Schuster if you need him. Any rain figures to help the D/STs, too. (Update: This game features the best chance of a "downpour" at some point, so be careful with the kickers and Smith-Schuster.)
MORE WEEK 1 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
Cowboys @ Giants. The chance for rain is a little lower and gusts won't be as bad for this game, so all the usual starters should be fine as long as the forecast doesn't get worse. (Update: There's now a 70-percent chance of rain early and a 50-percent chance of rain throughout the rest of the game. Expect more running than usual from both teams.)
Bills @ Jets: There's a 50-percent chance of early showers, but they should dissipate quickly, so there's no need to bench any regular starters.
All of this is subject to change as we get closer to kickoff. You can follow meteorologist Kevin Roth on Twitter (@KevinRothWx) and check out the hourly NFL weather forecasts on RotoGrinders. For the best weather-related fantasy advice, take a look at WeatherEdge.
