The 3 Things You Need for a Win-Win Dynasty Trade
Have you ever tried to find a trade and keep getting stonewalled by your league mates, or worse, the dreaded trade ghosting (a trade left unanswered with no response in sight)? Well, I’m sorry to say, the problem could be you.
If you’re not incorporating these three steps into your dynasty trade process, you’re making your fantasy football trading life way more difficult than it needs to be.
There are many factors involved when it comes to making that perfect win-win dynasty trade, but it always starts with these three foundational steps.
Know Your Needs
Start by identifying your team’s short-term and long-term goals, and what you want this trade to accomplish. Whether you’re rebuilding or chasing a championship, you need to know what you want out of the deal.
If it’s specific players you’re targeting, be sure to narrow things down by positions of need, current roster construction, and season-long matchups. If the current season is over, then it’s future assets you should be prioritizing, dynasty rookie picks, and young players with long-term upside.
Take all of the factors into account when you’re making this decision — it’s the key to knowing where to take things from here. Think about your trade like a house: to build a solid home for the future, the foundation needs to be done right.
Pick The Right Trade Partner
This is a very important step. Some even call it the most important. If you don’t look at the right team(s) to trade with during your evaluation process, there’s a 50/50 chance you’re wasting your time.
You need to evaluate the team you’re targeting and understand their needs and competitive window. You wouldn’t walk up to a family of five and try to sell them a two-seater car, would you? The same process applies here.
If you need a piece or two while chasing that elusive championship, don’t send a trade offer to the manager who’s locked into the playoffs as the number-one seed, he most likely won’t even consider it. Conversely, if you’re looking to acquire rookie picks or future assets, don’t send a trade to the team holding the projected 1.01 and out of the playoffs.
Really focus on this step when evaluating potential trade partners — it will save you a lot of wasted time and energy that can be better spent getting the right dynasty trade done.
Don’t Let Greed Kill A Good Deal
Believe it or not, there are times in dynasty fantasy football trading where you lose a battle to win the war. I’m not telling you to give away the farm, but don’t get too caught up chasing value in a trade calculator.
When you’re chasing a championship in the current season and need that one extra piece to put you over the top, don’t be afraid to slightly overpay if that’s what it takes to get the deal done. If you’re the team looking toward the future, ask for that little extra when another manager wants a valuable piece to fuel their ship run — that’s simple supply and demand.
There are many other factors to consider when making dynasty trades, but these three must-haves are essential for getting to that coveted win-win trade status. Following these guidelines will put you on the right path, how you navigate it from there is up to you.
If you have dynasty trade questions, roster-building thoughts, or trade scenarios you want to discuss, drop them in the comments below and let’s talk them through together. Good luck this season, and may your dynasty trade offers be accepted early and often.