Your draft is complete. You’re looking over your roster, curiously trying
to determine who is expendable. Why? Because since the last player was selected
in your draft you’ve been combing through the un-drafted, wondering who might step forward
and produce. Someone no one is even thinking about selecting.
You can’t lie to me. I’ve been there. Done that.
I’ve spent the hours, same as you, combing through every article, every magazine,
every free agent report, trying to uncover the diamond in the rough that is still available before the season starts.
Sorry my friends. “It ain’t gonna happen.”
Although it
is true that once the season kicks off there are a couple of players every year that breakout
off the waiver wire (Anthony Thomas in 2001, Chad Johnson
in 2002, Matt Hasselbeck in 2002, etc.), it is also true that there
are loads of players who people had high hopes on due
to a great performance in one game that just never panned out for the remainder
of the season. For example, remember when David Patten became the first
player to pass, rush, and catch for a touchdown in a game since Walter Payton?
In fact, he actually caught 2 touchdowns that game. In all, he scored
3 touchdowns and threw for another in just one game. Unbelievable! Everyone
wanted him. However, you should also remember another thing about David
Patten--although he had scored three touchdowns in one game, guess what his
total was for the year? Four.
Look, if you have the chance to get these one-time waiver wire specials,
then your team is in dire straits. In most fantasy football leagues,
picking up free agents is designed to help keep lower level managers interested, not
competitive.
Is that where you want to be? It doesn’t have to be. Look to
the “art of persuasion”.
Trading is a craft. For some it’s a fun part of fantasy football. Yet
others consider it tedious and unworthy. For the small percentage
of folks with the know-how, it’s a fine tuned symphony, an ageless bottle of
fine cognac, a masterpiece of classic style. To help those who have been unsuccessful with
trades in the past, here are five tips to help orchestrate an effective trade.
1. Ensure that the trade makes your team better.
Never, and I mean never, make a trade in the hopes that your team will improve
with the addition. You need to know it will. And it needs to be immediate.
2. Try the bundle.
Group two players together and trade for one. Or trade your one, for their
two. People seem to be more willing if it’s a multiple player deal, like
they get one for free. Focus on the needs of their roster. Offer a player at a position they need and throw in a “free” player. The best “free” players to throw in with a mulit-player deal are kickers,
tight ends (excluding the big 3 of Gonzalez, Shockey, and Heap) and backup receivers. (Nothing puts a smile on my face more than
trading a QB and a Kicker or a Tight End, for a top five RB).
3. Involve multiple teams.
This is the best way to lose the least amount of talent, while gaining the
most in the confusion of a multi-team deal. Basically, you are the “agent” that creates and facilitates
a trade between two teams. Only difference is, the players go through you.
You may get to do this only once, so make it count.
4. Go after players that are broken.
Classic example: Michael Vick. I would give up a Tier 2 RB or WR to gain
Vick for the playoffs. People tend to overreact when a player is hurt. Take
the initiative, see where they are deficient and make an offer. Just be careful
not to overextend yourself. Make sure you can wait for that player to get
healthy.
5. Sell it.
Make them think they are getting the better end of the deal. If you know
they will go for player A, offer player B. Let them seek Player A on
their own. This will give them the idea that the trade was their idea.
When it is all said and done, just nod, smile big, and welcome your new players
to the team.
