Fantasy Football

Brady Francis

Every year, as football season approaches, I watch my friends obsessively analyze preseason games and pore over seemingly meaningless statistics. They’re glued to every highlight and injury report, trying to gain the upper hand ahead of the season. Meanwhile, I take a different approach: I let the computer do the heavy lifting.

I know some people swear by their research, but I find that automated draft tools and ranking systems usually set me up for the most success. These algorithms process data in ways that are hard for any individual to replicate, taking into account factors such as matchups and player performance over time. As a result, I consistently end up with a competitive roster without spending hours on analysis.

While others are stressing over player projections and expected statistics, I can focus on the most exhilarating part of football —watching the games. I might not know every detail about every player, but my team usually performs to a high standard, proving that sometimes you cannot outsmart the computer, no matter the amount of time and dedication one puts into their player picks.

In the end, fantasy football is meant to be enjoyable, and I’ve found a way to keep it low-stress while still maintaining that competitive nature. All in all, if I had to choose between the computer and human prediction, I would choose the computer each and every time.