Pros and Cons to Consider Before Closing the Deal
This column is designed to quickly unearth some not so obvious things to help you... buy low and sell high.
Further, we suggest you only make a trade if you receive plenty of value in return and the deal results in an improved roster for your squad. In short, obtain players that will outperform their current perceived value while trading overrated talent. Do that and you'll be on your way to improving your roster. The perfect trade!
Owners considering trades should also consult our Rest-of-Season Rankings and Player Trade Evaluator.
The Playoffs are Coming!
With the playoffs just around the corner, we have heard from many of you that you already have a playoff spot locked up and are beginning to look ahead towards the playoffs. This week, I'm pleased to announce, we are rolling out a brand new report for subscribers designed to help you start planning your playoff matchups. We leverage our signature Strength of Schedule metric, Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed by position (aFPA), to rank all relevant fantasy players based solely on playoff strength of schedule.
>> The Playoff aFPA Matchup Planner
Keeper/Dynasty League Targets
We've asked our friends at DynastyLeagueFootball (be sure to check them out if you play in a keeper or dynasty league!) to recommend a few end of season targets for those of you playing in keeper or dynasty leagues. Below are some suggestions from DLF writer Ryan McDowell.
As the end of the regular season approaches in your keeper or dynasty league, with every move you make, you should consider the long-term ramifications on your team. With this is mind, now is a great time to make a move for some young, high-upside players who could make a big impact in 2015, especially if your team is already out of contention. Flipping veterans who could help another team win now for players that could carry you to a future title is a key move to make in year round leagues. Here are a couple of players you may want to consider:
Carlos Hyde, RB SF
The rookie running back for the 49ers, Carlos Hyde, had a nice game in Week 10, including a touchdown run, and that may already be driving up his price, but I think Hyde is well worth it. Long time starter Frank Gore is finally showing his age, and with his contract ending at the conclusion of the season, the 9ers may be ready to move on to the former Ohio State back. Hyde was drafted in the first round of most rookie drafts in the spring, so acquiring him for anything less would be a bargain. I expect he would still cost a future first round pick, but flipping a solid veteran like Jeremy Maclin or Arian Foster wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Ladarius Green, TE SD
Many pegged 2014 as the breakout season for Chargers’ tight end Ladarius Green, but instead it’s been another amazing year from future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, who is again a top ten tight end. With that said, Gates is 34 years old and Green hasn’t lost the measurable and athletic ability that had fantasy players drooling during the off-season. Unlike many other young players, Green hasn’t disappointed with his play, he’s just failed to get on the field, and his lack of production has his fantasy owners frustrated. Now is the time to take advantage of that frustration and make a deal.
A few other targets I’d be buying in deep keeper or dynasty leagues include: Teddy Bridgewater, Christine Michael, Eric Ebron, Donte Moncrief, Devonta Freeman, Jace Amaro, Victor Cruz, Travis Kelce.
And now on to our regularly scheduled programming...
Trade for Mark Ingram
Why trade for him now?
1) Schedule gets much easier.
2) Has a nice schedule during FF Playoff weeks 15 and 16.
3) Has a soft game this week.
Possible trade bait to land him:
Giovani Bernard
Rashad Jennings
Steve L Smith
Trade for Jordy Nelson
Why trade for him now?
1) Has a nice schedule during FF Playoff weeks 15 and 16.
2) Has a soft game this week.
Possible trade bait to land him:
LeSean McCoy
Marshawn Lynch
Drew Brees
Trade for Odell Beckham
Why trade for him now?
1) Has a nice schedule during FF Playoff weeks 15 and 16.
2) Young, learning with huge upside talent.
Possible trade bait to land him:
Ryan Mathews
Frank Gore
Brandon LaFell
Trade away John Brown
Why trade him away now?
1) Due to excellent showing last week, may be overvalued.
2) Schedule gets much harder.
3) Faces a very difficult opponent this week.
Possible reach target players to land in trading him away:
Keenan Allen
Jordan Matthews
Torrey Smith
Trade away Rashad Jennings
Why trade him away now?
1) Hard schedule during FF Playoff weeks 15 and 16.
2) Faces a very difficult opponent this week.
Possible reach target players to land in trading him away:
Randall Cobb
T.Y. Hilton
Mark Ingram
Trade away Darren Sproles
Why trade him away now?
1) History shows older players wear down more during the season.
2) RBBC factor - has another RB with talent on team.
3) Perceived value is high coming off of a big prime time performance.
Possible reach target players to land in trading him away:
Martavis Bryant
Brandin Cooks
Greg Olsen
Marshawn Lynch
Why trade him away now?
1) Due to excellent showing last week, may be overvalued.
2) Hard schedule during FF Playoff weeks 15 and 16.
3) Schedule gets much more difficult.
Possible reach target players to land in trading him away:
Jordy Nelson
Calvin Johnson
Matt Forte
Trade Pros and Cons: Full Breakdown
Segmenting Players by Category
Due to excellent showing last week, may be overvalued:
C.J. Anderson
John Brown
Anquan Boldin
Torrey Smith
Martavis Bryant
Brandin Cooks
Roddy White
Jared Cook
Mychal Rivera
Jason Witten
Because of last weeks modest effort, may be undervalued now:
Colin Kaepernick
Eli Manning
Chris Ivory
Knile Davis
Jeremy Hill
Fred Jackson
Lamar Miller
Steve L Smith
Mohamed Sanu
Sammy Watkins
Jeremy Maclin
A.J. Green
Travis Kelce
Schedule gets much harder:
Andre Ellington
John Brown
Larry Fitzgerald
Schedule gets much easier:
Tony Romo
Drew Brees
Mark Ingram
DeMarco Murray
Terrance Williams
Brandin Cooks
Dez Bryant
Jason Witten
Jimmy Graham
RBBC factor - has another RB with talent on team:
Isaiah Crowell
Reggie Bush
Branden Oliver
Montee Ball
C.J. Anderson
Ben Tate
Terrance West
Darren Sproles
Trent Richardson
Adrian Peterson
Jerick McKinnon
Joique Bell
Ryan Mathews
Jeremy Hill
Giovani Bernard
Ahmad Bradshaw
LeSean McCoy
Has a nice schedule during FF Playoff weeks 15 and 16:
Eli Manning
Tony Romo
Drew Brees
Isaiah Crowell
Reggie Bush
Montee Ball
C.J. Anderson
Ben Tate
Terrance West
Chris Ivory
Joique Bell
Fred Jackson
Lamar Miller
Alfred Morris
Mark Ingram
Justin Forsett
Vincent Jackson
Mike Evans
Odell Beckham
Randall Cobb
Jordy Nelson
Delanie Walker
Hard schedule during FF Playoff weeks 15 and 16:
Russell Wilson
Darren McFadden
Branden Oliver
Ryan Mathews
Rashad Jennings
Marshawn Lynch
Mike Wallace
Heath Miller
Mychal Rivera
Faces a very difficult opponent this week:
Alex Smith
Jay Cutler
Kyle Orton
Russell Wilson
Reggie Bush
Montee Ball
C.J. Anderson
Joique Bell
Lamar Miller
Rashad Jennings
John Brown
Reggie Wayne
Anquan Boldin
Larry Fitzgerald
Brandin Cooks
T.Y. Hilton
Jordan Cameron
Larry Donnell
Martellus Bennett
Has a soft game this week:
Robert Griffin III
Aaron Rodgers
Peyton Manning
Branden Oliver
Trent Richardson
Frank Gore
Ryan Mathews
Ahmad Bradshaw
Mark Ingram
Matt Forte
Pierre Garcon
Mike Wallace
Kelvin Benjamin
Josh Gordon
DeSean Jackson
Randall Cobb
Emmanuel Sanders
Jordy Nelson
Demaryius Thomas
Kyle Rudolph
Delanie Walker
Rob Gronkowski
History shows older players wear down more during the season:
Tony Romo
Tom Brady
Drew Brees
Darren Sproles
Steven Jackson
Frank Gore
Fred Jackson
Malcom Floyd
Andre Johnson
Reggie Wayne
Anquan Boldin
Steve L Smith
Roddy White
Jason Witten
Antonio Gates
Young, learning with huge upside talent:
Sammy Watkins
Mike Evans
Eric Ebron
Odell Beckham
Brandin Cooks
Jordan Matthews
Blake Bortles
Kelvin Benjamin
Bishop Sankey
Carlos Hyde
Jeremy Hill
Could be rested if team clinches a top playoff seed:
