Fantasy Football Trading

or The Be Attitudes of the Fantasy Football Trade

Trading is one of the most fun and potentially one of the most lucrative options a fantasy football owner has. A trade can make a mediocre team great, on the other hand however, it can make a great team mediocre. It’s always important to remember the whole reason you’re trading is to make your team better. Keeping that in mind, there are six rules to follow to insure that you get the most out of your trading experience.

1. Be Attentive
2. Be Prepared
3. Be Proactive
4. Be Clever
5. Be Decisive
6. Be Patient

Be Attentive
Understanding the values other owners place on their players is imperative in negotiating a favorable trade. During the first few weeks of the season, pay close attention to waiver wire acquisitions, trades made, and players started. Every time you talk to owners, try to get a bit of information regarding how they value various players on their teams. Keep your own thoughts close to your vest, and never give up opinions about your players. Taking notes will give you the advantage of negotiating from a position of knowledge when you enter trade talks.

Be Prepared
When it comes to your league, you need to know everything about everything. The first thing to do when proposing or evaluating a trade is to study it. Then, think about it from every angle possible. When you’re done thinking about it, study some more. Then, think about it again. The more perspectives you look at the trade from and the more research you do the better the deal will be for you. Study the remaining schedules of the players in question. Take a look at key injuries to other members of their teams that could effect their numbers. To paraphrase a great line from Hoosiers, “Know what flavor of gum the guy likes to chew.” As Whitney Young put it, "It's better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”

Be Proactive
In fantasy football, timing is everything. You must continuously evaluate and reevaluate players as the season progresses. Every time there is an injury, coaching change, slump, or streak an opportunity presents itself. Be the first to the trading table. Know what players are on other owners’ teams, your team, and waivers. Look for guys that have below average numbers up to that point in the year, and take into account situations that have contributed to those numbers. Make a list of players you think will outperform their current value and go after them. This is just the classic stock market “buy low, sell high” mentality. Chart out what other owners’ strengths are, and target those positions. Owners are a lot more likely to trade quality players to you if they have several other good players at those positions. Know your own strengths and deal from them without giving away too much depth. If you are strong at a position, other owners will be weak. Take advantage of this by disparity and improve your starters. The key is to be aware of situations and have enough confidence to pull the trigger as soon as they present themselves.

Be Clever
When trading, it’s important that you never allow yourself to be labeled. Be ever changing in your strategies, molding them to fit each individual owner in your league. Some owners will cave to pressure while others need to feel like they are driving the trade. You may be able to get an owner to feel sorry for you, or you may be able to ship another owner’s favorite player to him for a premium price. It all goes back to knowing the tendencies of your fellow players. Continually try new things, being creative and inventive. If you are looking for a running back 2 make a proposal for another owner’s running back 1 then “settle” for his 2. Just like in the business world, remember the ABCs, Always Be Closing. Look for an advantage, and when the deal is in your favor close it as quickly as possible.

Be Decisive
Once you’ve done your research, thought through it, and know your how you feel about a trade don’t let a smooth talking fellow owner change your mind. Make your decision and stick to it. Indecision will tilt the scales to favor your opponent, and will at best prevent you from getting the best deal possible.

Be Patient
The hardest thing to do when negotiating a trade is to know when to walk away. Sometimes a trade just isn’t in your favor, and it won’t be. Trading for the sake of trading is like tying a rock around your fantasy football season and throwing it into the river. If you are having a great season, why tamper with your starting lineup? Never allow yourself to become desperate. Always judge a trade on it’s value, and if you aren’t getting good value, walk away from it. If you are weak at a position or your number one guy just went down, field offers until you get an offer that adds value to your team. On the other hand, be willing to take “no” for an answer. If you make a proposal that you feel represents your best offer, but the other owner declines it. That’s fine.

Conclusion
The most important rule in trading is to make sure your team is going to be better after the trade. Make sure you are not creating a weakness by replacing one, and always look at the waiver wire to make sure a free agent won’t work just as well. Trading is the one of the best things about playing fantasy football. It can however, end a season before it begins. Study hard and follow these six simple steps to put yourself well on the well to becoming a fantasy football trading guru.

© Greg Starling - TheCoordinator.com