| It's getting to be that time of the year where | | | | While snow and rain are actually favorable to the |
| weather can have an impact on real life NFL | | | | offense, wind is another story. On days when the |
| games. As a fantasy football manager it is a | | | | wind is gusting quarterbacks and wide receivers |
| concept that you simply cannot overlook. Yes I | | | | will be affected in a big way. All one has to do is |
| am going on the record and saying it. Checking | | | | remember the 2007 season when Tom Brady |
| the weather reports as a factor going into the | | | | and Co. were simply rolling over everybody until |
| process of setting your fantasy football lineup is | | | | they met mother nature in week 15. The only |
| required! This article will explore the impact of | | | | thing that could stop the Patriots offense that |
| weather on fantasy football output. | | | | year was the wind. If you have a quarterback or |
| It is necessary to realize that there are different | | | | wide receiver on your team slated to play in |
| categories of weather, all which need their own | | | | extreme wind I would suggest you find an |
| discussion. This article will focus on rain, snow, | | | | alternative. |
| extreme cold, and wind. In the context of this | | | | Lastly, there is cold weather. Some of the |
| article rain is defined as creating conditions where | | | | warmer weather teams are certainly bothered by |
| the field and ball are impacted, so a light drizzle | | | | the extreme cold giving teams such as the Green |
| would not count. Likewise for snow there has to | | | | Bay Packers a huge home field advantage |
| be a significant accumulation on the ground that | | | | towards the end of the season. The cold weather |
| will impact the players footing. Extreme cold is | | | | also has an impact on kickers who lose distance |
| defined as temperatures close to zero. Lastly, we | | | | on their kicks as the air pressure in the ball is |
| will consider windy conditions defined as more | | | | affected. We came across an analysis that |
| than a light breeze, we are talking about those | | | | researched the effects of extreme cold that |
| cold Sundays with wind gusts that have an impact | | | | showed within a data set from 1998 that the |
| on the quarterback's ability to throw the ball. | | | | home team won every extreme cold game. |
| Our first instinct would be to consider any bad | | | | That's right, undefeated at home in the cold! The |
| weather condition to be a negative with regards | | | | take away is that teams not used to the |
| to fantasy football output, however that is simply | | | | extreme cold will see a negative impact to |
| not the case. Rain and snow actually seem to | | | | production. |
| have a negative effect on the defense more than | | | | In summary, weather is something to consider |
| the offense. Looking back at the 2008 season | | | | when setting your fantasy football lineup in the |
| week 16 saw bad weather games in Buffalo, | | | | later months. Snow/Rain seem to favor the |
| Chicago and Cincinnati. Those three games | | | | offense, particularly the running game. Stay away |
| produced five 100 yard rushers. Note that these | | | | from defenses slated to play in rain and snow. |
| performances all came from the running back | | | | Wind is another story as it can completely shut |
| position, however quarterbacks and wide | | | | down the passing game. Extreme cold will affect |
| receivers can both excel in windy/snowy | | | | kickers and away teams not used to those |
| conditions. While the quarterback may not be able | | | | conditions. So remember, take a quick look at the |
| to grip the ball as well, receivers have a huge | | | | weather before you set your lineup as it can give |
| advantage on slick surfaces. Defenses are at a | | | | you the edge that determines the difference |
| disadvantage with poor field conditions as it is | | | | between winning and losing on NFL Sunday. |
| harder to cut and maintain coverage. | | | | |