Don’t be THAT guy.

You know the guy. He only offers trades that are going to benefit his team WAY more than it will benefit yours and then goes on to take offense when you decline it.   “Fine, be an idiot of you want to”. He’s also the guy most likely to cry foul and call offers he receives “insulting” if they resemble the ones he makes. Heck, he usually laughs at you if you offer him a trade that has the nerve to help both teams involved. 

Don’t be that guy.

When I see offers like the ones described above, I always assume the owner doesn’t trust themselves enough to make a trade that benefits their team and the team they are trading with. Too many players are worried that other owners may say they gave up too much, or got robbed, or whatever. I say if you got the player you wanted for the price you were willing to pay for him, be satisfied. Anything more than that is gravy.

Buy low, Sell High.

You’ve heard it a million times. It’s the number one rule of trading right? The problem as I see it is that so many people forget that they are “selling high” or “buying low”. They forget that the player they are trying to sell will most likely come back down to earth; that the player they are trying to buy will soon be riding high again. You have to remember what you feel the players involved are “actually” worth and be prepared to adjust your offer on the off chance that the other owner happens to also be aware of the “Sell High, Buy Low” theory. Remember, IT’S THE NUMBER ONE RULE OF TRADING apparently so they may have heard of it. There are a few other useful rules of trading however that you may also find beneficial. Sure, they are less used, but they are just as useful.  Ive listed a few below that I personally find helpful.

You want to have some wiggle room, but don’t bother starting a mile away. Occasionally you might make a “take it or leave it” type of trade, but more often than not you want to leave yourself some negotiating room. In fact, I usually try to determine what my counter will be ahead of time. “If he says no, I will throw in…”. The quickest way to squash a deal before the talks even begin is to start so far away from the middle that the other owner doesn’t bother countering as he assumes you wouldn’t know a good deal if it bit you. This unfortunately happens much too often.

Get off your butt and go make a trade happen. I cant tell you how many times I’ve heard people say “Marvin Harrison is on the block. Make me an offer!” The passive approach wont get the job done nearly as often as the aggressive approach does. Good things do not come to those who wait. They come to those who work for it.

Be aggressive, but don’t be annoying. I can be guilty of this one myself as it is subjective as to what is considered annoying and what is considered just another part of the negotiation process. Personally I try not to come back with the same offer twice unless additional information has become available (new week of stats, player news, etc…). But you built in some wiggle room into your offer to begin with, right? Don’t be afraid to use it.

Why make one offer, when you can make 3? If I have a top WR to sell for a starting RB, the first thing I do is look for teams that need WR help. If one or two (or more) of them have a surplus of RBs, I’ll make them all offers.

However, sometimes you have to think two moves ahead. If the teams hurting at WR are also lacking RB depth, it might look as though a trade with them wont be an option. Look again. Perhaps one of them has two solid QBs and may be willing to give one up for a top WR. And perhaps a different team with several studly RBs may just be in need of a QB. There’s a chance here for a win-win-win situation. Consider all the options and initiate the negotiations.

Marketing 101. There are many sharks in the Tank in the marketing field and every one of them will tell you that if you have something to sell, make people want to buy it. Sure, some players sell themselves, but these players are rarely involved in trades. Look to see how a trade proposal will help the team you are offering it to and TELL THEM about the benefits. Show them the stats, or the schedule, or whatever criteria you have that will explain to them that they cant afford to pass up this offer. Never assume they will connect the dots on their own. If you show them the way, they will often follow you there.    

Look for teams with needs, not necessarily needy teams. Yea, it’s often easier to get a good deal from a team back on its heals, but don’t overlook the opportunities that may come from a trade with a league leader. I do what I can to make my team the best it can be. I’ll worry about the fact that I helped out a rival on the week(s) I play them. If this trade gives me a better chance to beat the other 10 teams in the league, I’m good with it.

Depth is a great thing during the season, however don’t forget that once the post-season is here, it’s win or go home. Your bench scores no points. So unless you are in a Dynasty league, see what value your bench could bring in a trade as your trade deadline approaches. It’s all about upgrading your starters at that point.

Never stop evaluating your team, or others. Keep abreast of your fellow owners rosters and of their needs and surpluses. By being “aware”, you not only give yourself the knowledge to intelligently make or respond to trade proposals; you also give yourself an opportunity to get a jump on the other owners who may make a similar offer to yours at a later time.

No trade is too small. If a trade nets you a small increase in a starters potential or better depth, it was a good trade. They don’t all need to be blockbusters.

That’s it for now. Perhaps a few of these rules will help you become a more efficient trader in the future. Good luck!

Oh, in regards to receiving trade offers, there is only one rule.

If you get an offer, respond to it. Counter. Accept it. Decline it. Whatever. Just don’t look at it, say to yourself you don’t want it, and then leave the other owner hanging. Nothing irks a Fantasy Football player more.

Don’t be THAT guy either.