Dear Abby, can 1st place teams trade?

[tweek]

Dear Abby

This is my 1st year ever playing fantasy football. The league is free and the people in it have done it for several years. I feel lucky to be invited.

I did my homework prior to the draft and did several mock drafts for practice. So, even in spite of drafting in 12th position, I came out very well in the draft. I drafted Eli Manning, Henne, Mendenhall, Hakeem Nicks and Jets defense; then after week 1 dropped Henne to add and play Orton. I am in first place after five weeks.

Just before the week 4 byes I traded DeAngelo Williams and Malcom Floyd for Big Ben and some other guy I immediately dropped. Big Ben has tons of potential as I write this.

So, today I offered to trade my Eli Manning and Mike Tolbert for the other team's Jamaal Charles. The other team is 2-3 and 2 games back in his division. His QBs are Kolb and Henne and his RBs are Frank Gore, Arian Foster and Charles. Charles sits on his bench. He's giving me a reserve and getting a starter; seems fair to me.

There have been two objections to my trade in a league that's never had an objection before. Now I feel like the George Steinbrenner of fantasy football. I crossed some line.

1) What's the etiquette as far as first place teams trading?
2) How do I unload third QB without a contender getting him?

[sheethappens]

First off, there is no "etiquette" regarding first place teams NOT being able to trade nor improve their team.

You are trading the 12th best FF QB (in most scoring formats) for the #21 RB (again in most scoring formats). That's slightly in your favor but not by a lot. There is no "collusion" between you and the other guy (you guys trying to stack your combinded best players on 1 team and then splitting the booty) and it isn't like you are "raping" a noob so there is no grounds for any objections. It's most likely just sour grapes on their behalf. I'd call them out on it, ask the GM to take an honest look at the trade, and if he has any questions, or just wants to add more info that you may be leaving out, then have him come on here and talk to us. I work from 3pm to 3am mon - sat so i'm tough to reach at times but you can send me a private message or just keep bumping this thread and I'll try to get back to you asap.

Again, there is no justification for rejecting this trade under the conditions you've presented herein.

And hey, I traded a WW pick for Andre Johnson. How do you think they'd feel about that one??? It was Peyton Hillis who I traded but still, he was a virtual nobody and I traded him for a first round draft pick.

[tweek]

Thanks for the offer to intercede, but I really just wanted a reality check, me being a noob myself. But it's nice to know it's the objectors that got a problem and not me.

[displaced longhorn]

some people can't stand to see the best team get better. even trades that are ridic stacked in their favor (but i still get value) have been failing in my league that i'm dominating.

[JackedSierra]

you havnt crossed any lines.. you obviously arnt working with the other team to try and stack 1 team. they just dont want to see the #1 team get better.. he needs a qb and u want to add depth at rb.. he isnt going to get any better than eli for charles..

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