- Dynasty Trade Secrets | Everything You Need to Assess Your Roster
- Dynasty Trade Secrets | Understanding Player Values
- Dynasty Trade Secrets | Understanding Draft Pick Values
- Dynasty Trade Secrets | Finding a Trade Partner
Trading is an exciting, strategic aspect in dynasty fantasy football. In dynasty leagues, a fantasy manager’s success often hinges on their ability to trade efficiently. Fantasy managers can fill gaps in their roster, improve weaknesses, and provide depth to their overall squad. Successful trading requires a solid understanding of player values, league trends, and negotiation skills. In this edition of Dynasty Trade Secrets, we will explore finding a trade partner.
Dynasty Trade Secrets
In the first article of the Dynasty Trade Secrets series, we discussed assessing your team roster to determine whether you are a pretender or a contender. We followed that article up by diving into player values. Last article, we tackled draft pick values. I encourage you to read all three articles first as we will be building on these concepts:
STEP 1 | ASSESSING YOUR ROSTER
STEP 2 | UNDERSTANDING PLAYER VALUES
STEP 3 | UNDERSTANDING DRAFT PICK VALUES
STEP 4 | FINDING A TRADE PARTNER
Finding a trade partner in fantasy football is crucial to managing your team and improving your dynasty roster. Engaging with other managers, making fair trade offers, and being open to negotiations are key elements in forging a successful trade. It requires strategy, communication, and timing.
Using the Nerds App, I will highlight my team in the Nerds App League. If you want a full breakdown of the league, make sure you read Keith Ensminger’s full article:
This roster setting is currently set for Contender Mode. Clearly, from my roster construction, I view this team as a Contender, and so does the Dynasty GM, as I rank second overall. While assessing areas on my roster that I can improve, I notice that I lack a true difference maker for my QB2. Geno Smith and Kirk Cousins are more bridge quarterbacks at this point in their careers.
Using the Dynasty GM, I see that Keith Ensminger has depth at the quarterback position with Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Cam Ward, Bryce Young, and Jaxson Dart but lacks at the running back position, which is an area that I am strong at. This would be the center point of my trade.
Choosing the right trade partner rather than focusing on a specific player is essential. This allows for trades that address both team’s weaknesses and strengths**.** A trade that looks “fair” on paper might not fit your trade partner’s needs best. Once you identify a partner, it allows for more flexible and strategic trades.
BUILD RAPPORT | FINDING A TRADE PARTNER
Once you establish a trade partner, it is time to engage in conversations with them. Reaching out and establishing conversations will gauge their interest level in moving certain players rather than sending out blind trade offers.
A good trade partner is receptive to communication and willing to negotiate, leading to smoother and more productive trade discussions. You should always respond to trade offers and explain your reasoning even if you’re not interested. This shows respect for your trading partner and can help build trust.
BUILD TRUST
While building a rapport with your trade partner, you also establish trust. Understanding that it’s not about winning the trade every time is essential. You should focus on fair, mutually beneficial trades that can help both teams improve over time rather than just trying to “win” a single trade. Fantasy managers who feel taken advantage of are less likely to trade with you again and could deter other fantasy managers from participating in trade negotiations.
BUILD A REPUTATION
Building trust with trade partners will lead to more trade opportunities in the future with the same fantasy manager or open up possibilities with other league mates. You want to be known as a fair and reliable trade partner in your fantasy league. Once you build a strong reputation among your league mates, you increase your chances of getting deals done.
REVIEW | FINDING A TRADE PARTNER
Remember that the goal is to form mutually beneficial deals that make both teams better, fostering positive relationships within your league and increasing your chances of success. Asking the other manager if they are a looking to contend for this coming season may be a useful tool in talks.
Trade Target of the Week | Dynasty Trade Secrets
Cole Kmet | TE | Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams is primed for a sophomore season surge with offensive guru Ben Johnson as the new head coach. Rome Odunze seems to be getting the offseason hype as a key beneficiary under Johnson, while many are forgetting about Cole Kmet.
If the Bears offense resembles anything like the Lions while Johnson was the play caller, Kmet could be in line for similar production as Sam Laporta. Currently going in the 12th round of startup drafts, many have forgotten that prior to last season, Kmet had a TE7 and TE8 finish.
