Trade Strategy

What should you look for in a trade? It should be one of two things, improving your current position or improving future position.

Improving current position means trading a player or combination of players to give you better talent at one spot. This usually means a starting position, but could be a backup at a particularly vulnerable spot on your team.

Improving future position means either getting a good keeper prospect or future draft picks in return for your player.

How do you make a trade? Approach an owner who has a need. Offer him a decent deal and be willing to negotiate. If the other owner takes your first offer, that isn't your fault. If you need to negotiate, that's okay too. It makes owners feel safer if everyone knows that you negotiate for trades. If you try to 'win' every trade by not accepting other owners counter offers, no one will want to trade with you.

It doesn't really matter if one side comes off better in the short run as long as you fill your need. If you have three good starting QB's but need a second WR, trade with an owner who has three good WR's and questionable QB's. It doesn't matter if everyone thinks that QB is more important. You've got a surplus, and you have a need at WR.

Identify your need. Identify your potential trade partners needs. Make an offer (it can be in your favor). If the other owner makes a counter offer, think it over. If it fills your need and doesn't weaken you in another area, trade. Or continue making offers until both sides can agree.

If you are solid at all your positions, and the league allows it, trade for future draft picks. Take an owner who needs a second starting WR. If you've got two top WR, a good #3 and a halfway decent backup, trade that #3. Try and get a future pick. The other owner is more competitive this year, and you are in a better position next year.

This is really sneaky if you think about it. If you can trade for a couple of extra picks each year, you can create a continuous demand. Think about position dominance. If you get an extra pick or two, and use those extra picks on one position, you can get good keeper prospects or at least take chances on guys who might breakout. Owners want those prospects or breakout players. You can trade them for more picks. Each time you do this you better your future position, while worsening your opponents future position.

Three things to consider. First, don't trade away your future draft picks. They are the foundation for a winning team. Second, don't trade away a starter unless you have a good backup. You'll worsen your chances of winning this year. Third, remember that both sides can get what they want in a trade, you just have to be willing to work at it.

Don't Worry About It

You should realize that your draft will always look stupid after the season is over. That is why the real game starts after the draft.

Your top draft picks can only disappoint you. If they perform well, then they're doing what you expect. If they don't do as well as you projected, you feel upset.

Don't worry about it. Everyone is in the same boat. Everybody's breakout players come from later in the draft. The lower expectations create a situation where the player can pleasantly surprise you.

Does this mean that you should trade away your top pick for a chance at some mid round gems?

No.

Just make your projections, draft as best you can, and don't worry. If something goes wrong (and it will) you'll have a chance to fix it in free agency. There are always a couple of good players who show up in free agency, and can help you in your goal of getting to the playoffs.

Position Dominance

What is position dominance? It simply means that you are loaded at a position. It gives you flexibility later in the year, and lowers risk.

Last season, I traded down in the first round and up in the second. I drafted Clinton Portis first and Chad Johnson second. In our league you can start one or two RB's. What were my next picks? RB, QB, RB, TE, RB,WR, RB. See a pattern?

So I like RB's. I think that a good one helps your team win, and an okay one is great for trade bait. I was taking into account that some of these guys wouldn't work out like I wanted. But if one started hot, maybe I could get a better player who was not so hot at the time.

There was another owner in my league who grabbed WR early and often. A third grabbed two QB's in the first 6 rounds. We clearly had the best depth at these positions. We were thus in a position to make trades to improve the rest of our team.

The owner with two top QB's didn't make any trades. He missed the playoffs.

The owner with the WR's made a couple of trades. He traded away Torry Holt to try and solidify his RB's. He also traded a future 2nd round draft pick for Willis McGahee, just before McGahee got the starting job. He too missed the playoffs, but he has several good keeper prospects for this year.

So who did I draft? Michael Bennett, Matt Hasselbeck, Quentin Griffin, Jeremy Shockey, Willis McGahee, Javon Walker and Chris Brown. It is important to note that I do not like Michael Bennett or Quentin Griffin. I like Minnesota RB #1 and Denver RB #1. I thought that these were the most likely candidates at draft time.

I traded Chris Brown for my starting defensive backs. Shortly after week 2 was finished I traded Griffin for Deuce McAllister, making my point about trading for a better player who is not doing so hot. Then, like an idiot, I traded McGahee. Of course I have extra picks in the 2005 draft now, and I wasn't likely to start him over Portis or McAllister.

To sum up, I feel it is a wise move to try and corner the market on a position. If you already have your starters, all the other owners will think you're done with that position. If there is a potential value when your turn comes, take it. You can cover all your bases and set yourself up for future success.