Should you use AI (Artificial Intelligence) in fantasy football? Can it actually help you win games—maybe even a championship?

Last year, I partnered with Greg Kellogg, an FSWA Hall of Famer, to test this in a head-to-head battle against AI. The only problem: we didn’t track results. (Pro tip: humans forget, algorithms don’t.) In 2025, we’re doing it right. We’ll be tracking results weekly, documenting everything, and sharing it with you. By the end of the season, you’ll have the answer to the question every fantasy manager is secretly asking: to AI, or not to AI?

Each week, I’ll be joined by Sir Whittington (Google AI’s alter ego) and KROG. We’ll each be saddled with three random players—because let’s be honest, the biggest fantasy headaches usually come down to your flex spot.

Here’s how it works:

  • One WR or RB ranked outside the top 24
  • One TE ranked outside the top 12
  • Our mission: pick the guy who can beat his projection and make us look smart.

Your mission: figure out if you should trust me, or the algorithm that also recommends you buy socks after shopping for lawn chairs.

Oh, and here’s the twist—the “winner” isn’t the one who scores the most points. The player with the most points is actually the loser. We’re tallying it week by week to see who gets crowned by the end of the season.

Week 4 Recap

Here are the players’ results from last week:

  • WR Drake London finished WR5
  • TE T.J. Hockenson finished TE22
  • RB Chase Brown finished RB37

Through the first four weeks, Man vs. Machines is deadlocked. The drama has already begun, and as we enter the second quarter of the season, things are only just starting to heat up.

Standings

  • Sir Whittington: 12
  • KROG: 12
  • Tipp: 12

Sir Whittington’s Response

Sam LaPorta has been a reliable target for Jared Goff, making him a decent option in PPR formats, and he still carries the potential for a surprise touchdown. That said, he has struggled to put up yardage this season, with under 40 receiving yards in three of four games, and the emergence of Jameson Williams could eat into his targets.

Woody Marks is beginning to carve out a bigger role in the Texans’ offense, showing the kind of production and snap share that could make him a serious PPR asset. His strong college receiving background helps, and with Joe Mixon potentially sidelined, Marks could see plenty of touches, especially against a Ravens defense riddled with injuries. Still, the uncertainty around Mixon’s return makes him a risky play.

Keon Coleman offers the tantalizing chance for big plays, with the ability to rack up yards on a single reception and occasional games with a high target share. However, his production has been inconsistent, injuries have cropped up in the past, and he must compete with other weapons in the Bills’ offense. Coleman is the classic swing-for-the-fences option: thrilling when it works, frustrating when it doesn’t.

Summary: LaPorta provides a PPR floor but limited upside, Marks could break out if circumstances align, and Coleman is a high-variance player who can either light up your scoreboard or leave you disappointed.

KROG’s Response

Woody Marks is finally getting his chance to shine, out-touching Chubb and lighting up Week 4. Baltimore’s banged-up front makes him a PPR-friendly RB2 with plenty of catches and carries. Downsides? He’s still sharing the workload, and if Houston falls behind, he might spend more time watching the Ravens than running past them. Bottom line: hot waiver-wire pickup; plug him in before someone else grabs him.

Sam LaPorta remains Detroit’s reliable checkdown/TD threat, especially in PPR formats. He’s a red-zone monster, but with St. Brown and Williams hogging targets, expect some “meh” stat lines sprinkled with TDs. Bottom line: safe TE1 floor; he won’t wow you weekly, but he won’t burn you either.

Keon Coleman is a boom-or-bust deep threat, capable of making you look brilliant—or absolutely foolish. Target share is inconsistent, and the Patriots might single him out to ruin your Sunday. Bottom line: only start in desperate PPR lineups; otherwise, keep him on the bench.

Tipp’s Response

Watching and understanding the game still holds massive weight. The machines can crunch the numbers, but there’s more to fantasy football than just stats.

Woody Marks has officially arrived. In Week 4, he planted his flag as the Texans’ lead back, handling 22 touches and finishing as the RB6. Now he gets a golden opportunity against the Ravens, who have been leaking fantasy points to running backs at a league-worst rate. It isn’t just the volume—Marks has been efficient and versatile. He’s caught 75% of his targets so far, including 4 of 5 passes last week, and he’s proving reliable in the passing game. Even better, Pro Football Focus graded his pass blocking at 83.5, meaning he’s trusted enough to stay on the field in all situations. With his workload, efficiency, and ability to protect the quarterback, Marks looks ready to become a weekly must-start. Bottom line: Woody Marks is no longer just a breakout candidate—he’s becoming a fantasy star.

Sam LaPorta has been one of the bigger disappointments at tight end this season, and much of it stems from the sudden red-zone surge of Amon-Ra St. Brown. With St. Brown dominating scoring chances, LaPorta’s fantasy value has taken a hit despite being on the field nearly every snap. But here’s the thing about tight ends: fortunes can flip quickly. LaPorta is still heavily involved in Detroit’s offense, even if some of that work has been in blocking assignments, and he remains a trusted target for Jared Goff. The Bengals are up this week, and they’ve been vulnerable to the position, allowing two tight ends to score already and giving up eight fantasy points per game. LaPorta may not have cashed in yet, but the opportunities are there, and all it takes is one trip to the end zone to flip the narrative. Bottom line: Don’t give up on LaPorta—he’s still heavily involved, and a touchdown is coming soon.

Keon Coleman, after an encouraging Week 1, has seen his production fall flat. He’s averaging just 3.6 targets per game, which isn’t enough volume to matter in fantasy. Right now, he’s a bench stash until the Bills decide to give him more consistent opportunities. Yes, he draws a plus matchup against the Patriots this week, but the bigger question remains: will he see enough targets to matter? Bottom line: Coleman has the talent to break out, but without volume, he’s a risk best left on your bench for now.

Week 5 Breakdown

Sir Whittington

  1. Sam LaPorta
  2. Woody Marks
  3. Keon Coleman

KROG

  1. Woody Marks
  2. Sam LaPorta
  3. Keon Coleman

Tipp

  1. Woody Marks
  2. Sam LaPorta
  3. Keon Coleman