It will become that time of year when the weather can have an impact on real life NFL games. As a fantasy football coach, it is a concept that you simply cannot ignore. Yes, I will put it on the record and say so. Checking the weather reports is necessary as a factor in the process of setting up your fantasy football lineup! This article will explore the impact of weather on fantasy football production.

You need to realize that there are different categories of weather, all of which need their own discussion. This article will focus on rain, snow, extreme cold, and wind. In the context of this article, rain is defined as creating conditions in which the field and the ball are impacted, so a light drizzle would not count. Similarly, for snow there must be a significant accumulation on the ground that will impact the footfall of the players. Extreme cold is defined as temperatures close to zero. Finally, we will consider wind conditions defined as more than a light breeze, we are talking about those cold Sundays with gusts of wind that impact the quarterback’s ability to throw the ball.

Our first instinct would be to regard any bad weather conditions as a negative when it comes to fantasy football production, however that is not the case. Rain and snow seem to have a negative effect on defense more than offense. Looking back at the 2008 season, Week 16 saw bad-weather games in Buffalo, Chicago and Cincinnati. Those three games produced five 100-yard runners. Keep in mind that all of these performances come from the running back position, however quarterbacks and wide receivers can excel in wind / snow conditions. While the quarterback may not be able to catch the ball as well, receivers have a huge advantage on slippery surfaces. Defenses are at a disadvantage with poor field conditions, as it is more difficult to cut and maintain cover.

While snow and rain are favorable for the offense, the wind is another story. On days when the wind blows, quarterbacks and wide receivers will be greatly affected. All you have to do is remember the 2007 season when Tom Brady and company were just running over everyone until they met Mother Nature in week 15. The only thing that could stop the Patriots offense that year was the wind. If you have a quarterback or wide receiver on your team programmed to play in extreme wind, I suggest you look for an alternative.

Finally, it is cold. Some of the warmer weather teams are certainly upset by the extreme cold that gives teams like the Green Bay Packers a huge home-court advantage towards the end of the season. Cold weather also has an impact on kickers losing distance on their kicks as air pressure on the ball is affected. We come across an analysis that investigated the effects of extreme cold that showed within a 1998 data set that the home team won all extreme cold matches. That’s right, undefeated at home in the cold! The bottom line is that teams not used to extreme cold will see a negative impact on production.

In short, the weather is something to consider when setting up your fantasy football lineup in recent months. Snow / Rain seem to favor the offense, particularly the running game. Stay away from scheduled defenses to play in the rain and snow. The wind is another story, as it can completely end the passing game. Extreme cold will affect kickers and visiting teams who are not used to these conditions. So remember, take a quick look at the weather before setting up your lineup, as it can give you the edge that determines the difference between winning and losing on NFL Sunday.

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