OK I Want to Trade, Now What?

How do I make my team better?

What should I ask for?

What shouldn’t I ask for?

What is my goal in this trade?

How should I start the trading process?

Am I making a mistake by offering this trade?

These and many other questions befuddle many dynasty owners, including myself sometimes.

In my last article, I touched on using communication and relationship building to open trade opportunities.

These are still the cornerstone of trading especially getting to know your fellow owners.

• What websites do they use?
• One site may be higher on a player than another, and depending on the website an owner may think you are trying to give up too much or too little for a particular player.
• Who is their favorite player(s)? One owner may love having Tom Brady in every league regardless of cost.
• What is their favorite team? I was in a keeper league for years with 11 Cleveland Browns fans and it was easy to get Pittsburgh Steelers from other owners because the rest of the league hated them. But I digress….

You should always trade strength for strength.  Find a team that needs help in an area that you are strong in and have good depth at a position. The team that you want to trade with will have strength and good depth at a position that your team needs help.

The next question along with that is how do you know you have an abundance of strength at a position? If you have twice as many solid players to start in your lineup than you can start, you have a lot of strength in that position. The goal of the trade is to improve your and your trade partner’s lineup week in and week out. Ask for the team’s best reserve player in the position and offer your reserve best player in the position they need. There is nothing like going full guns blazing on someone who the other team does not want to trade. Trade talks can end as soon as they begin.

It is ok to let someone know there are untouchables on your team i.e.: MJD and Ray Rice come to mind with me. But I am always willing to hear offers for Larry Fitzgerald, and Peyton Manning. This doesn’t mean I would ever trade them, but I would think about a good offer. If a team changes their team name to match a player on their roster, don’t ask for that player. You will tick off the owner nine times out of ten.

It has been said many times and many ways, understand your league’s scoring, starting requirements, and position scarcity.

Aaron Rodgers is a stud QB in a 4pt td league, but he is a superstar in a 6pt td league. Six top wide receivers in the top 25 will do your team absolutely no good if you can only start 3 of them while you are starting a tight end outside of the top 25. If you have Trent Cole and Jared Allen while only being able to start one of them, you should trade one of them as those guys are premium at their position.

Do not be shy about including draft picks to get a deal done.

Look at see how valuable that pick was last year. What players were selected that round last year? I feel comfortable trading away 3^rd round picks as you don’t always fall into a Mike Wallace every year in the 3^rd as the other 3^rd round draft picks didn’t contribute like he did. Also, if you are trading away a 1^st round pick, ask for their 2^nd round pick back. This way you are moving down spots instead of losing picks. Getting young blood on your team is always key.

Send an email or a text that you are interested in talking trade with someone and when is a good time to talk.

We have all been “cold called” by someone who doesn’t identify themselves calling around dinner time or in the middle of a softball game or right when our significant other wants our attention. I am in five leagues and I sometimes don’t know who you are, my roster, and your roster in that league. Be considerate of a potential trade partner. You would be surprised how many people don’t want to trade with a slick salesman or someone who thinks they are smarter than them.

Dynasty fantasy football is based a lot on the feel of the owner and opportunity of the player.

Follow the news daily, listen to other people’s opinions but make your gut calls. I have made a lot of mistakes in dynasty leagues. I dropped Miles Austin a week before he exploded. I traded away Donald Driver and Ricky Williams before the start of last season for James Casey and Michael Bush. The trick is to keep on moving forward and try to better your team.

Good luck.

Andy Miley can be found on Twitter – @RealAnakin