After the Dolphins' disastrous start to the season, reports surfaced that some of their players were requesting trades. Presumably, this was in addition to the guys they were already shopping. And Jalen Ramsey is still trying to move on from the Jaguars, though the team is trying to find a way to keep him. It's clear that some teams are at least thinking about trades.
So does that mean you should be considering trades in your league?
Short answer: Yes. But there's more to it, so please keep reading. You should consider trades at this point in the season. About 30 percent of your regular season is gone, so you have a decent sample size, time to make a difference in your season, plus a little wiggle room to go back and forth and get something done.
That doesn't mean you should actually make any trades. But now's the time to think about it. And at least you don't have to worry about players trying to abandon ship. You could go 0-8 to start the year, and Patrick Mahomes will never ask to get traded to a winner. That's comforting, right?
Anyway, if you're ready to entertain the idea of making a deal, keep a few things in mind.
1) Nobody is trying to "help you out." Your fellow owners are not social workers or therapists. Their job isn't to make you feel better about your team, or bolster one of your weaknesses. If they come to you with a proposal, they can probably tell you why it makes sense on your end. In fact, you're getting everything you need to go on a win streak; just click accept and that title is practically yours!
Sure it is. Keep in mind that they don't want the player(s) they're offering, and they want the guy they claim you can totally afford to let go. Now, maybe it actually does make sense. Some owners are looking to make fair deals. But don't be swayed by their sales job. Do your own research, and determine if the moves really benefit you.
2) Make sure you're getting what you think you're getting. Is Sterling Shepard the top receiver for the Giants? Or will Golden Tate change that? How will Kareem Hunt affect Nick Chubb in a few weeks? We don't know, really. Maybe things won't change much, or maybe they'll change just enough to make a player look a lot less appealing a month from now. If there are variables associated with a player you're receiving, make sure that's reflected in your evaluation, and the asking price.
3) Make sure you have the depth you really have. Oh, you can give up a starting receiver. You hit the lotto with Terry McLaurin, right? Sure, but that's with Case Keenum behind center. What will his numbers be like with Colt McCoy, or even Dwayne Haskins? Again, we don't know. Your starters might not perform like starters. Your quarterback depth is one hit away from being gone. Your new players might have bye week conflicts with your existing team. Some schedules look harder than others, especially during your league's playoffs. There are a lot of variables that can take what looks like tradeable depth and turn it into guys you absolutely need to keep things going later in the year.
4) Nobody values their players accurately. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and every owner sees their talent as top-tier trade bait. If you want another player, expect to run into some attachment by the other owner. They likely drafted the player, and had high expectations for them. They might hold out hope that a turnaround is right around the corner, and you'll have to pay a price for that hope. If that price is too high, don't pay it. But don't get frustrated because you value a player differently. You should expect it, and react accordingly.
That also goes for your players, by the way. You probably value your guys more than another owner does. What you think is a lowball offer might actually be the market for a guy who isn't as impressive as you once thought. The player you're offering in return might be considered bench depth by the other owner, even if you consider him a starter. Don't accept trades you don't think help you, but understand that there are probably a dozen opinions about your players' worth, and yours is the most inflated.
After a careful evaluation, you might decide not to trade at all. Or you might decide to start negotiations that will take a couple weeks. Or you might find that perfect trading partner early in the process. You won't know until you find out. So you'd be wise to consider trading at this point in the season, but only a fool would do so without giving careful thought as to what they're getting and what they're giving up. Good luck this week.
Are you fielding trade offers? Making any yourself? What's your best trading advice? Share your thoughts below.