TRADE IMPORTANCE

In many of the 14 team leagues, the waiver wire is picked clean. But then owners in such a league might look at the owned percentage of Wes Welker, and notice that this top receiver is actually available in far away lands. While they are scraping the bottom of the pan to make dinner, others are finding main entrees right in the waiver wire. 

There is a way to gain Wes Welker, or other great players. This is no complex strategy guide. This is very simple advice for fantasy owners: build strength on the strength they already have. This method of recovery is consistently shunned by owners.

A crucial element of fantasy football is research; determining a players' weekly potential based on their matchup and their history. Teams who fail to research also often fail to win. This applies when trading as well. If an owner analyzed opposing teams, and researched their players, they may find a team with oppositely aligning strengths and weaknesses. With this, there may be a potential trade.

Two teams can empower each other; it has happened, and it continues to happen. By sacrificing a player of value, both owners can receive a player of more value to them. 

This happens because of different positional weaknesses. A good receiver may not be as valuable as a good halfback to one owner, while to another, it may be the complete opposite. It is completely dependent on their respective lineup.

When owners decide to not divert from their drafted team, and maintain their flaws, it is often to their detriment, and to the detriment of teams attempting to trade. There are not enough decent weekly matchups for every struggling team to continuously rotate players through the waiver wire. The only viable option in a 14 team league is to make trades. When owners refuse, it hinders the general function of their team, and their league. 

RULES OF THE TRADE

With the knowledge that trades are crucial, owners will want to execute them. But the potential of being fooled by an opposing owner is still there. They must first understand the fundamentals of trading, lest they end up on the wrong side of a bad deal. 

Rule One:

Do not immediately dismiss another owner's initial offer. It is usually outrageous; but many owners begin the negotiation process by sticking their fork right into your main entree and offering crumbs in return. Instead of rejecting their trade, acknowledge that this person is receptive to trading. Place a counter-offer, which may begin a series of counter-offers resulting in a fair trade for both sides.

Rule Two:

Do not fall into sell-high traps. A tactic of trading is to dump bad players, who just had a big game, in exchange for a good player who recently had a bad game. This could be detrimental as bad players are scarcely consistent. Do not surrender your studs for an unproven performer. 

Rule Three: 

Pay attention to injury reports, and injury-prone players. Michael Vick may be projected to score more points than an owner's second-tier quarterback, so this could seemingly be a good deal. However, Vick had two separate injuries in weeks two and three. He is not reliable. Additionally, someone may attempt to trade for an injured players' backup. If the owner is unaware that the starter is injured, they are also unaware that their backup's value has increased, and may sell him short.

Rule Four:

Consider the team that the player in question is on. Reggie Wayne, Dwayne Bowe, Santonio Holmes; all great receivers. But their offenses are riddled with problems, and their value has dramatically decreased this season. 

SAMPLE LINEUP

QB: TOM BRADY

WR: WES WELKER

WR: MALCOM FLOYD

RB: RYAN MATHEWS

RB: AHMAD BRADSHAW

TE: VERNON DAVIS

W/R: PRESTON PARKER

The owner of this team clearly rotates two players through the waiver pool based on weekly matchups. This lack of depth would make this owner more receptive to a trade. Their two top halfbacks should be offered for two lesser halfbacks, and a couple of consistent wide receivers. Such an action will prevent this player from rotating through the waiver wire, and will allow them to maintain a consistent lineup.

The views and content in this article are not necessarily the opinion of Fantasy Football Champs, www.FFChamps.com, and its in-house experts.