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Late Season Trading Strategies

By Robby Wellington – Staff Writer

With most leagues’ trading deadlines right around the corner, it becomes increasingly important for owners to take stock of their teams and make smart trades based on a few key strategies. I’ve outlined my favorites below.

1. Trading for the Playoffs

I’ve discussed this strategy before. If your team is headed to the playoffs then you should be looking to acquire guys with favorable matchups those weeks. You should go as far as to set your lineup for those crucial weeks and see where there are holes. Then you can trade for a good QB matchup in Week 16 or a solid defense in Week 15 accordingly.

2. Trading for the Rest of the Regular Season

If you’re still scrambling just to make the playoffs, then you need to focus on the next four weeks as the most important of the season. Treat them as your playoffs and look to maximize good matchups.

3. Weakening Your Opponent

If you have a big game coming up, see if you can give that owner a player with a bad matchup that week for someone with a favorable matchup, thus greatly increasing your chances of getting a key win. This can also be a very effective tactic in the playoffs if you can anticipate who you’ll be playing there.

4. Weakening Your Rival

If you’re competing for a top seed or playoff spot with another team, see if you can make a trade that will strengthen their opponent during a particular week and hopefully hand your rival a key loss.

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10 responses to “Late Season Trading Strategies”

  1. Keith Avatar
    Keith

    Robby, I’m a fan of the trading for the playoffs approach…though I’ve had more success picking up FA’s I think will be contributors then…are there any guys you’d recommend targetting for the stretch that might be a tad undervalued now?

  2. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    I’m sure Robby will chime in with his own guys as well, but Lee Evans, Greg Jennings, Jon Kitna, Frank Gore, Mike Bell, Maurice Jones-Drew, L. Coles, Matt Jones, Chris Chambers, Tony Romo and Donte Stallworth are all guys who won’t be impossible to trade for and have favorable matchups come fantasy playoff time.

  3. Todd Avatar
    Todd

    I like Chambers especially. He’s always a second half guy and is still getting a bunch of looks his way.

  4. Robby Avatar
    Robby

    Chester Taylor and Willis McGahee are two backs who can be got on the cheap right now. Both should do big things in the playoffs. Same goes for Shaun Alexander (if you like rolling the dice on injuries, that is). In 2-QB leagues, try and get Losman and Brad Johnson for next to nothing as they’ll be worth starting. . .

  5. Jason Avatar
    Jason

    I can’t give away L. Jordan and Edgerrin James….so frustrating…Im even trying to only improve my TE and defense, still no luck. Has there ever been a bigger bust combo than that.

  6. TV Avatar
    TV

    I just receivedd this offer and would like to know should I take it…I give Chad Johnson, An. Boldin, Corey Dillon, Deangelo Williams and Randy McMichael and get Javon Walker, Chris Chambers, LaMont Jordan, Willis McGahee and Heath Miller.

    Other than Jordan and Dillon I like the trade a lot but he hasnt responded to my counter. Should I pull the trigger???

  7. Robby Avatar
    Robby

    I like it for you as long as you’re already in the playoffs and can afford to stash Willis. Otherwise I would really be on the fence with this one. . .

  8. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    Heath Miller has been really bad, I’ve been doing my best to upgrade at TE in my PPR league, and McMike has been real solid since Harrington took over….Aside from that, I see approximately equal value in the WR swap (slightly better for you), and obviously Dillon is better than Jordan. I also like D. Williams’ upside, so like Robby mentioned, this all comes down to McGahee….Do you have Anthony Thomas insurance, and are you set for the playoffs? I wouldn’t do it if you’re fighting for a playoff spot.

  9. TV Avatar
    TV

    I pulled the trigger on Boldin, CJ, McMichael and Williams for Chambers, Walker, Jordan and Miller. I have Winslow so I wont be starting Miller unless the knee injury that has gotten Winslow on the injury report all year actually causes him to miss time down the stretch.

    As much as Jordan has sucked he has some pretty nice matchups the rest of the way and Williams will only play if/when Foster gets hurt. It also gets me Walker and Chambers who I think are much better options the rest of the way than CJ and Boldin.

    Thanks for the insight.

  10. RotoScoop Avatar
    RotoScoop

    I like it. As much of a Maroney fan as I am, keeping Dillon over McGahee seems the safer route to me. NE at home vs. Hou week 15 seems like reason enough. And obviously you having Winslow makes the Miller/McMike swap not a big deal. While I do like the CJ/Boldin combo, you could be right that you’re new WRs are fairly decent upgrades.

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