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. (Lesson learned—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: decide whether to trust me or the algorithm that also recommends socks after you shop 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 9 Recap

Last week was the first time this season that the Machines and I not only agreed, but we all got the players ranked correctly. Here are the yearly totals:

Sir Whittington: 20 points
KROG: 28 points
Tipp: 20 points

Excuse KROG—they’re waiting on a new processing chip, but it’s backordered. Try to keep up, KROG!

Here are the finishes for each player last week:

D.J. Moore: 22.98 points
Dalton Kincaid: 22.10 points
Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 5.10 points

Sir Whittington

Right then, let’s take a stroll through a few fantasy names making waves, wobbling about, or simply trying not to fall flat on their face this week. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and mind the emotional turbulence—these lads can be quite unpredictable.

Josh Downs (WR, Colts)

Josh Downs has quietly become one of those reliable PPR darlings you pretend you “always believed in,” even though you absolutely didn’t draft him on purpose. His recent volume has been lovely, and the scoring streak is the sort of thing that makes you raise an eyebrow and mutter, “Go on then, lad.” However—there’s a bit of volatility in that Colts offense. Too many mouths to feed, too many plays where the ball goes absolutely anywhere except where you want it. So while Downs is giving you solid numbers, don’t go penciling him in as the next monarch just yet.

Alvin Kamara (RB, Saints)

Ah, Alvin Kamara—once the crown jewel of PPR backfields, now more like a nobleman whose estate is slowly crumbling due to “unfavorable architectural decisions.” His pass-game usage still keeps him relevant, bless him, and he’ll give you enough receptions to avoid a complete meltdown in your group chat. But the workload—the efficiency—well, they’re headed south faster than a Brit escaping winter. That Saints offensive line is about as sturdy as a foldable camping chair, and Kamara is paying the price. Still startable, still respectable—just don’t expect fireworks unless someone accidentally lights the fuse.

Zach Ertz (TE, Commanders)

Zach Ertz may be old enough in football years to start a pension, but with McLaurin out, he’s suddenly staring at a potential bump in targets like, “Oh! You remember I exist?” Of course, he remains painfully touchdown-dependent. Yardage upside? Not exactly. He’s not sprinting away from defenders so much as politely jogging. But if you’re desperate at tight end—and let’s be honest, tight end desperation is practically a seasonal tradition—Ertz could do the job. Think of him like not thrilling, but it’ll get you through the day.

KROG’s Response

Josh Downs

Josh Downs enters the week looking rather sprightly, riding a three-game touchdown streak and benefitting from the Colts’ insistence on throwing the ball as if the forward pass were just invented. His target volume remains steady, his role secure, and he’s been doing just enough to make you think, “Yes, this could work again”. Of course, Downs still operates in one of the most crowded receiving rooms in the league, meaning any given week could feature someone else joyfully stealing his production like a seagull nicking chips. His yardage isn’t exactly breathtaking either, so you’re leaning on touchdowns whether you admit it or not. Outlook: A playable WR3/flex who may reward you—or may leave you staring blankly at the scoreboard, wondering how many pass-catchers one team truly needs.

Alvin Kamara

Kamara’s receiving usage remains his lifeline, providing a PPR floor sturdy enough to prevent emotional collapse. The matchup with Carolina is favorable, and in theory, this should be the sort of week where Kamara calmly gathers receptions while you nod with cautious optimism. Then reality sets in: the Saints’ offense is sputtering like an old Chrysler on a cold morning, and Kamara’s efficiency has plummeted to the point where he’s technically still running the ball—but you wouldn’t know it from the box score. He’s now floating in that uncomfortable low-end RB3 territory where hope and dread coexist. Outlook: Startable for the checkdowns alone, but fully capable of delivering the kind of slow, grinding disappointment that makes you rethink your choices in life.

Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz remains a reliable safety valve—dependable targets, steady presence, and the sort of player who catches passes with the weary energy of someone who’s done this far too long. With McLaurin out, he should see a bump in looks, which is promising—in theory. Enter Marcus Mariota, whose tight end production historically fluctuates somewhere between “fine” and “Oh dear, why is this happening?” To make matters worse, Detroit’s defense is as welcoming to tight ends as a locked pub door at closing time. Outlook: A viable TE option only because tight end is a weekly endurance test, but brace yourself—his fantasy line may make you question whether the sport should be legal.

Tipp’s Response

Welcome back, fantasy managers, to another week of trying to decode player usage like it’s an encrypted message from a spy movie. Some players are trending up, others are trending down, and a few appear to be trending directly into the nearest ditch. Let’s break down three names who could swing your matchup depending on how merciful the fantasy gods feel.

Josh Downs (WR, Colts)

It turns out Josh Downs may have discovered the cheat code to scoring touchdowns: Exactly nine targets. In his last five games where he hit that oddly specific number, he scored in four of them. If that doesn’t scream “statistical destiny,” I don’t know what does. Even better, the Falcons’ defense has recently transformed from very good to “unexpectedly generous.” OK, two touchdowns isn’t that generous—but when you let Demario Douglas “Pop” you for 100 yards, that should leave the Colts eager to attack this matchup. They allow 22 points per game on the season but 26 points over their last three. It appears they’re in the giving spirit, and Downs may be ready to collect. Outlook: If Downs gets nine targets again, lock in the points. If he gets eight or ten—well, proceed at your own emotional risk.

Zach Ertz (TE, Commanders)

Yes, Zach Ertz is still doing the thing. And he’s doing it with four straight games of 4+ targets, which makes him practically a tight end luxury item in today’s landscape. With Christian McCaffrey now on IR (unbelievable, truly), and Terry McLaurin out again, the Commanders are running out of people to throw at—giving Ertz a nice uptick by default.The Lions have been respectable against tight ends, but they still give up nearly five receptions per game to the position. In tight end terms, that’s practically a seasonal buffet. Outlook: Not flashy, but safe enough to roll out without immediately regretting your life choices.

Alvin Kamara (RB, Saints)

And then we reach Alvin Kamara, whose workload graph is beginning to resemble a ski slope. Eight touches in Week 8, seven touches in Week 9—and that’s not even counting the ankle issue tagging along like an uninvited guest. The question “Is he being phased out?” isn’t just fair—it’s loud, obvious, and waving its arms like it’s trying to catch a taxi. Outlook: Kamara is still talented, still capable, and still Alvin Kamara—but until the Saints decide he deserves more than seven touches, he’s a risky start with downside written all over him.