Master the Art of the 2 for 1 Trade

James Hatfield May 20, 2010

Trades are one of my favorite things about playing fantasy football.
Where else can you play the role of an NFL GM? In most leagues trades
range from fair to really one sided. That range is due to how certain
owners feel about certain players. Some owners will have players
ranked higher than others. Other owners will just want players on
their teams because they’re fans of a certain team. Some owners will
really dig in and do research before offering or accepting trades.
Other owners will see a match up they like and offer trades
immediately. There are many reasons owners makes trades (and many
reasons they shouldn’t). However, I do have one rule that I rarely
break when it comes to making trades.

My cardinal fantasy football trading rule – DON’T TAKE A 2 FOR 1
TRADE, UNLESS YOU’RE GETTING THE 1. A 2 for 1 trade usually means
that the team giving up 2 players is getting 1 stud in return. This
also means the other team is giving up a stud to take on 2 players of
lesser quality. I’ve never been a fan of the 2 for 1, unless I’m
getting the 1 stud. Normally, the 2 players the team will get in
return aren’t as consistent and can’t be relied upon, like the 1 stud.
Every year I’ll try to make many 2 for 1 trades and when I’m able to
land one, it always seems to instantly make my team better. These
trades don’t always happen (and they shouldn’t). Pulling off the 2
for 1 is tough, but it can be done. Making it happen is all about
timing. There are several situations when the conditions are ripe for
the 2 for 1.

Below are several situations where the pump is primed for making a 2
for 1 trade:

1) When a stud player is facing a tough match up for a fantasy team
that has to win now – This situation usually means the owner is
desperate, which is a perfect time for the 2 for 1. If your team is
in a position where you can take the stud, DO IT. It will make your
team stronger in the long run.

2) The 2 players you’re trying to trade have great match ups in the
near future – I try to leverage this in my favor all the time. If you
have a mid-tier player with a couple great match ups on the horizon,
use that to your advantage. Package that player with another player
and try to get a stud.

3) Some team just lost another stud to an injury – think Owen Daniels
last season. He was one of top TE’s in the league until he had the
season ending injury. Owners that had Daniels were probably used to
consistent production from their TE position. With him out of the
lineup, they had a big need to fill.

4) One of the 2 players your trying to trade just got a starting
position due to an injury to the current starter (non serious injury
where the current starter will be back in several weeks) – use the
momentum from gaining a new starter. Bundle that new starter in with
another player and try to reel in a stud

5) A good team has just lost a couple games in a row and the owner is
in “panic mode” – this happens every year. Some team starts the
season 5-1, then they lose 2 or 3 in a row and completely panic. This
is an opportune time to try and make the 2 for 1 happen.

Making a 2 for 1 happen is tough, but it can be done. Once you find
the right 2 for 1 situation, jump on it. Be fair, but relentless.
Offer several combinations of 2 for 1’s (just make sure you’re always
getting the 1). You don’t know how high or low the other owner might
have a certain player. It never hurts to see, just make sure the
trade is reasonable. Don’t ever offer a trade that you know is really
lopsided. You can offer trades that you think are a little in your
favor, but please no – Chris Chambers and Mushin Muhammad for Brandon
Marshall type trades. Make sure it’s realistic. If it’s not
feasible, you’ll lose credibility, insult the other owner and never
been able to pull the trade off. No one wins every trade, but you
should win the majority of them. Use the information above and strike
while the iron is hot to pull off your own 2 for 1 trade.

Article written by: Rick Coeburn
For questions or comments, e-mail at – fantasyfootballsoup@gmail.com
Follow his blog at http://fantasyfootballsoup.wordpress.com/

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