Let’s Make a Deal!

It’s early July and many fantasy football leagues have already begun or completed drafting for the upcoming season. The following article will help you get the most out of your trade proposals and know key concepts in trading players. One doesn’t have to be a used car salesman in order to pull off a good trade, but knowing your opponent’s tendencies can go a long ways.

Homers
Perhaps the single greatest component of successful trading: knowing the other owner’s favorite teams and weaknesses. Are there any die-hard Rams fans in the league? If so, maybe you have the most to gain by trading Marc Bulger to that particular owner. Another weakness is owners who love a certain position more than they should. Know a guy who just has to have multiple stud wide receivers? See if you can get him to cough more than what a top-flight wide receiver would typically command.

Stubborn Traders
Knowing your league’s owners is a two-edged sword. Beware of the guy in your league that overvalues his players and undervalues yours. For example, the only way he trades Shaun Alexander is if he gets two stud running backs and a top-tier wide receiver in return. Although it would be nice to land a mega-stud like Shaun Alexander, you shouldn’t have to break the piggy bank.

Sales Pitch
If you went in to buy a new car, would the salesman talk negatively about the product he was selling? Heck no, nor should you talk poorly about your fantasy players. Try to convey a positive image around your players. Here, the key is to make the other owner believe he is getting the better end of the deal.

Sticker Price
When buying a car, the sticker price is always negotiable. Start off on the high side, but don’t go overboard. For example, Owner A wants Larry Johnson and is willing to give up Tiki Barber and Darrell Jackson. Yet, he offers Owner B Tiki Barber and Joe Horn which results in rejection from Owner B. Following it up, Owner A says “Alright, I will give up both Tiki Barber and Darrell Jackson!”

Do both sides benefit?
In order to pull off a successful trade, the deal should make sense and benefit all parties interested. While “lowballing” is an acceptable method, it should only be used sparingly. Tempting as it may be to propose Joe Horn for Larry Johnson, it’s just not a productive strategy. Once in a blue moon, the other owner may accept a truly poor deal but usually lowballing is used to spring negotiations and counter offers. Don’t insult an owner by repeatedly throwing out these ridiculous trades, it’s downright annoying.

Damaged Goods
Finally, selling damaged goods is frowned upon and sleazy. For instance, a few people tried trading Priest Holmes after he was injured to unsuspecting owners. Selling damaged goods is dirty and is not a good way to build a solid foundation for future trading. Many, if not all owners, will avoid trading with an owner that has a bad reputation for scams.

Don’t feel pressured
When wheeling and dealing, take your time and don’t make irrational decisions. If need be, allow yourself a day to think over the trade. Also, the Fantasy Football Cafe is a great place to get second opinions. By following the advice above, you will be able to successfully trade and improve your fantasy football team.

(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)  Loading ... Questions or comments for Jim? Post them in the Cafe Forums! Want to see your own fantasy wisdom published? Check out the Cafe's Pencil & Paper section!