Weather is always the "forgotten factor" in fantasy football. We spend hours obsessing over start 'em, sit 'em decisions and waiver wire pickups, but then we might see a weather report at the last minute and barely pay attention to it. Of course, we all know heavy rain, wind, or snow can play alter games, and if you're caught off guard, it's easy to overreact (or not react enough). That's why, with the help of RotoGrinders' meteorologist Kevin Roth, we'll hit you with a weekly weather report so you can take everything into account when setting your lineups. Fortunately for Week 1, there isn't much to take in.
There are really just two worrisome spots in the Week 1 NFL weather forecast, and those are in Buffalo for the Steelers-Bills and Jacksonville for the Packers-Saints. Both are relatively minor worries, but given the lack of any other issues (besides some heat that often leads to cramping), those games stand out. Otherwise, we're looking at a pretty perfect Week 1.
WEEK 1 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, Sit 'em
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.
WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
NFL Week 1 weather updates
Forecasts courtesy for Kevin Roth at RotoGrinders.
Steelers @ Bills. Winds will likely be between 10-15 mph, and there's around a 50-percent chance of rain (more so late in the game than early). It could wind up being nothing or there could be in-game showers that slightly slow down the passing offenses and kicking games. Either way, it's tough to bench any of the top passing or receiving options for either team.
WEEK 1 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | Yahoo | FanDuel
Packers vs. Saints (in Jacksonville). We're used to not worrying about weather in Saints home games, but this "home game" is in Jacksonville. The weather forecast is somewhat similar to Buffalo's, with winds gusting to 15 mph and showers potentially moving in and out. Given the QBs in question, there's no reason to change your fantasy outlook on them. The same goes for Davante Adams. Marquez Callaway becomes slightly riskier, but if you were counting him, the forecast isn't enough reason to take him out of your lineup.
MORE WEEK 1 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Broncos @ Giants, Vikings @ Bengals, & Dolphins @ Patriots. All three of these games could see winds around 15 mph. However, with little chances of rain, there's no reason to alter your fantasy decisions based solely on the breeze.
WEEK 1 NFL PICKS ADVICE: Survivor Pools | Pick 'em Pools
Browns @ Chiefs. This game has some mild wind concerns, too (not enough to affect fantasy decisions), but the main reason we wanted to highlight it is because it could see the highest temperatures of the day, with in-game highs reaching the mid-90s. It's one of several games that figures to see temperatures reach the high-80s or low-90s. You shouldn't bench anyone because of high temps, but this is just a reminder that you could see your players going in and out of games a little more often, especially if they have issues with cramping.
WEEK 1 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
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.
