Nothing makes a fantasy football player feel more like the GM of a pro team than securing new talent through a savvy trade. But how do you make great trades in fantasy football? And avoid being the GM who botches them? We have five tips for great trades in fantasy football.
Trading is one of the best elements of fantasy football, especially if you compete in a dynasty league and are building your roster over a number of seasons. Whether you’re landing a star to take you on a championship run or securing a player with an eye towards future productivity, trading will make you feel like you’re officially in the GM suite.
Trouble is, trades are also something of a high-wire act. In other words, they’re easy to botch. It’s not unusual to make trades based on emotion—you’re convinced this is the exact player you need, you have a gut instinct someone is about to break out, you had success with a veteran in the past. Even the people who are GMs of actual NFL teams make these kinds of mistakes. What’s more, when you make a mistake, it’s going to stick with you, and you’ll be reminded every week of your misstep.
If you want to trade successfully, start by being as analytical as possible. Crunch the numbers. Play out scenarios with a different player in your lineup. Study the upcoming opponents of the players you’re hoping to land or the ones you’re looking to deal. Trusting your gut is great, but you’ll be well-served by doing your research.
Here are five tips for great trades in fantasy football.
1. Make sure you’re trading for the right reasons.
It’s easy to let emotions take over decision-making. Maybe you came off a bad week and are convinced you need to shake things up. But it’s important to make trades based on what you really need—not what you’re feeling.
Start by defining the goal of the trade you’re considering. Are you making a swap for immediate improvement? Or is it part of a longer-term plan? Do you think you need experience and sure point-getters or are you looking for youth?
Study who might be available and analyze how they will fit into your roster. It’s easy to be frustrated with, say, an under-performing quarterback and decide he needs to be dumped immediately for a rookie who has come off a couple of good games. Maybe that is the right way to go, but look at the schedule that rookie will face in the next few weeks and consider whether your current starter may have some softer defenses ahead.
Trades are exciting and fun. You end up with a new player to watch, and you feel like you’re making chess moves. That’s great. But make sure every trade you make has real purpose before you pull the trigger.
2. Consider your offer carefully.
There are two ways to go when it comes to offers. Start with a strong entry, the best you’ll do, and see if it takes. This can be effective when you have a player in your sights, and you have some inkling the other GM is ready to make a move as well. Just be ready to walk away if your instincts aren’t right and your opponent wants to haggle.
The other way to go is start lower than you’re willing to go and work up from there. If you think the other GM is reticent to make a move, this can be a good approach. Let them counter and if it’s still at or below your bottom line, you can accept the trade. They may counter just because they want to feel like they’re getting the upper hand in the negotiation. In other words, you’ve let them make an emotional decision—see Tip #1!
Be logical and fair. The other GMs in your league won’t want to deal with you if you’re known for suggesting ridiculous swaps. Consistent lowball offers mean you’ll eventually be cut out of roster discussions altogether. It’s also frustrating if your counter-offer is something entirely different than the original—then you’re just wasting everyone’s time. You want to be a player, and a good trade is usually one that benefits both rosters.
3. Do trade for draft picks and young players in a dynasty fantasy league.
If you’re in a dynasty fantasy football league that rolls over from season to season, you really need to think like a true general manager in the NFL. Recognize when it’s time to rebuild, so you can target the teams that are in the hunt for the title. They’ll be more likely to risk their future in order to win now.
If you have a high-performing veteran on your roster, take stock of their current age and potential injury status. Football players can have very short careers, and losing a player that is gathering points for you this season could land you a young up-and-comer or the next big thing coming out of college.
If you’re on the other side of the ledger and looking to win versus rebuild, don’t be afraid to shed a draft pick or two to land the player you want. That’s a good way to avoid changing the current nature of a successful team, and can be the bait that lets you secure that player you covet. Think about tossing an a second or third round pick to close the deal, or swapping draft picks you may already have.
4. When it’s a big star, make sure everyone in your fantasy league knows he’s being shopped.
When you decide it’s time to part with one of the league’s best, don’t keep it secret. Use the communication tools your league provides so everyone knows who is on the block.
Why? Let’s call it FOMO. Plenty of fantasy GMs are worried about missing out on something. Especially an impact player who can help them win games immediately. But that FOMO also causes them to increase the value of what they’re offering in return because they’re concerned someone else will land the player you have announced is available.
5. Get over your bad trades in your fantasy football league.
Even the best GM in the NFL has a made a trade or two they come to regret. If you play fantasy football long enough, you will, too.
Many fantasy players make a trade that doesn’t pan out, and then swear off trades forever. Big mistake. Trades can be a great tool but you have to accept that they come with risk. Sometimes that risk produces real rewards. Other times it turns into a dud.
So what? Get over it. Move on and keep considering trades. Not only do they make fantasy football fun to play, that dud on your roster still might have some appeal to another GM. They might want a guy to fill a hole, or see the same things in a player that caused you to deal for him initially.
Mistakes are going to happen, and in most leagues, the other GMs will make sure to remind you about them. That’s the kind of gamesmanship that makes playing in a fantasy league. Deal with it and yes, keep dealing.
Bottom line? Smart trades can turn around a season or set you up for success in the next one. Pay attention to opportunities that might be available and don’t be afraid to pull the trigger when there is a sound, rational reason.