Jos-AI Mourinho? Fantasy Football managers turn to artificial intelligence to gain an advantage

• New research from Virgin Media O2 finds that two thirds of Fantasy Football players are set to use AI to help them manage their team this season
• The tech-savvy managers plan to use it to choose their team name, pick their starting lineup and help them with transfer decisions
• Despite the widespread usage, many players believe it takes the fun out of the game and is essentially cheating

As the Premier League returns, Virgin Media O2 has today released new research which reveals that two thirds (66%) of Fantasy Football players will be turning to AI to gain an advantage this season.

Younger fantasy football managers are set to embrace AI the most, with 79% of those aged 25 to 34 planning to use it this season. In contrast, only 35% of players aged 65 and over say they’ll give it a try, preferring to rely on experience over algorithms.

The research finds that managers are lacking creativity, with 37% admitting that they have used AI to help them pick a team name. However, many are going even further and plan to share managerial responsibilities with an algorithm: 34% will use it to pick their starting eleven, 31% to help it choose a captain, and 31% to assist with transfer decisions.

It’s clear that those using AI to help them this season have a competitive streak, with more than four in ten (41%) admitting they are doing so to improve their points total. Other managers obviously have busy lives and some simply can’t handle the pressure, with 40% using the technology to save time and 34% to reduce decision stress.

Despite the majority of Fantasy Football players (55%) accepting that it’s a clever thing to do, many are not impressed with their rivals turning to technology and see it as controversial. Nearly two thirds (65%) believe that it takes the fun out of the game and over half (57%) see it as outright cheating.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “Fantasy Football is no longer just about gut instinct, as many players are using AI to make smarter and faster decisions when it comes to their team. We have seen data completely transform many sports, such as baseball and Formula 1, so it is no surprise to see Fantasy Football players using it to gain an edge. This is another brilliant example of how digital habits are evolving and why we’re upgrading our networks to keep pace.”

Virgin Media O2 is committed to upgrading its networks across the UK, to provide customers with the best experience possible, no matter where they are. This includes investing £2bn a year on its network and services to make this a reality.