Your league's trade deadline is coming up and your playoff hopes are going down. Do you try to make a move, or be patient with what you have and hope for a run?
I'm usually in favor of patience, and not abandoning the strategy you executed on draft day. But that was a long time ago. Now, like a coach who gives a quarterback the dreaded vote of confidence, only to pull him the next game, I'm saying it's time to make some moves. Patience is for September and October. You need wins now.
Normally, owners look at other struggling teams as trade partners, and try to find a good fit that helps both sides. That sounds very mature and professional, and I really don't think you should bother with it. The last thing you want to do is help a fellow bubble team. Don't give them anything that adds a single point to their scores. The playoff spot they claim could be yours.
I wouldn't bother with the bottom-feeder teams, either. Even if they're the good owners who will try to win for pride's sake, they probably aren't interested in helping you make the playoffs. So don't expect hot and heavy negotiations and quick responses. Unless it's a keeper or dynasty setting, they probably want to win what they can with their own guys. So that leaves the owners at the top of the standings. The ones who are already winning. What would they want with players from your mediocre squad? Quite a bit, actually.
Sometimes the teams who are a lock for the post-season make the best trading partners.
If an owner is 9-0, 8-1 or 7-2, they're probably going to the playoffs. And they know it. And while you shouldn't look ahead, that's exactly what they're doing. Week 15 and 16 matchups are becoming more important than this week's opponent. They're looking at schedules and trying to find the very best players for those specific weeks. And if you have something they want, they'll pay for it. Maybe even overpay.
Did you stash Josh Gordon on your roster for a playoff run? He's not going to help you right now. But with the way the Browns are playing, I bet he's an interesting pickup for a team looking for a little extra firepower in the playoffs.
How about Knile Davis? If the Jamaal Charles owner looks good for the post-season, they'd probably be willing to pay for some peace of mind. Even if you have a kicker or defense that has an appealing late schedule, that could prompt some interest from a top-tier team.
Look at it from their side. They're probably not going to use that receiver or running back stashed away on their bench. Their backup tight end is just taking up space. On paper it would look like a lopsided trade to give away startable talent for a backup or a strong defense, right? But they're not playing a season-long game anymore. They're concerned with a couple of weeks at the end of the year, and anything that enhances their starting lineup is worth considering. It could make the difference between winning a title and losing a heartbreaker. But aren't you making a strong team that much stronger? Won't they be an even tougher opponent if you make the playoffs? Yep. But you can't afford to worry about that right now. As you already know, once you get there anything can happen. Just claim a spot in the post-season first, and worry about how you'll advance later.
And if you're one of the top teams, I encourage you to trade some depth to improve your playoff fortunes. If your league's bubble teams aren't smart enough to do what I suggested, go ahead and make an offer yourself. Pick up a better special teams position, or a backup you feel you really need.
I'm not saying to ditch all your backups, because you never know when they'll be called into duty. But you might have so much depth at one position it's almost embarrassing. If that's the case, go ahead and spend some of that capital making your starters better when it matters most. And don't worry about the trade looking good from your end. A player you'll never start for a player you will start is always a good deal at this stage of the game. Depth can't score points, and you need the latter more than the former.
Whether you're on the cusp of elimination or riding high into the post-season, take advantage of your remaining trade time, and make some unconventional offers to a fellow owner. You never know what might happen. Good luck this week.
Who are you trading and who are you targeting as your league's deadline approaches? Share your thoughts below.