NFL Trade Watch: 5 Trade Situations Worth Monitoring for Fantasy Football

Player movement doesn't just affect the game itself, it affects the game based on the game.

To excel in fantasy football, it helps to be privy to player movement during the offseason so draft day isn't marred by picking a backup quarterback in the first round, or missing out on the late-round pick whose value shot up after a big trade.

With player movement on hold, a number of trade rumors have come and gone, but just as many have had a chance to stew.

Here are some of the potential offseason trades that could have a big impact on your fantasy team.

Kyle Orton's Traded to Arizona or Stuck in Denver

The Denver Broncos have decided to go with Tim Tebow to start the 2011 season with Kyle Orton being the likely candidate to back up the second-year passer. However, Orton has been the subject of many trade rumors that would greatly affect his fantasy value for the coming season.

Orton's fantasy value will depend on who he suits up for next season, and the popular destinations are Arizona or back in Denver.

If Orton stays with Denver, his numbers will plummet as long as the team decides Tebow is top dog. If Tebow fails to impress, Orton would still only see a handful of games with which to produce. He would be the type of player fantasy owners draft in the later rounds hoping he'll get his chance in the final six or seven weeks.

If Orton is traded to Arizona, expect him to produce career-highs in yardage and touchdowns. He has been taking part in Larry Fitzgerald's offseason workouts in Minnesota, which could pay huge dividends if Orton ends up a Cardinal.

Orton best season was in 2009 where threw for 3,802 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 inteceptions in 2009. He could add a good 400 yards and 7 touchdowns to those totals if he is dealt to the Cardinals.

Carson Palmer to the Seattle Seahawks

The Cincinnati Bengals are quickly reverting to their former role as perpetual disappointment in the NFL. Former franchise quarterback Carson Palmer told the team to trade him or he would retire from football. The simple solution would be to bench Palmer or trade him to end the issue.

Palmer would benefit from a reunion with former USC coach Pete Carroll in Seattle.

If Palmer retires, he would be a non-factor in fantasy football. If the Bengals call his bluff and Palmer remains in Cincinnati, he would likely be the starter for half the season until rookie Andy Dalton is given the reins. If he goes to Seattle, he could be a nice sleeper pick given his history with Carroll and former teammate Mike Williams.

It is a longshot, but trading Palmer to the Seahawks would solve the Bengals's issue, and give the Seahawks a veteran quarterback with some good years ahead of him.

Albert Haynesworth to the Philadelphia Eagles

Albert Haynesworth went from being considered one of the best defensive players in the NFL to the most expensive headache in the Washington Redskins organization. Though the team may be forced to release him in the near future, there is still the potential for the interested Eagles to trade for Haynesworth.

With Haynesworth motivated by revenge and a need for redemption, the Eagles would have a near unstoppable defensive attack.

The Redskins aren't losing much in the deal since they suspended Haynesworth for the final few games of last season. The Eagles would have to bank on him being bitter and looking for blood against Washingtonand anyone else the Eagles put in front of him.

Washington would take a huge loss in the deal, since Haynesworth has a $100 million deal and the worth of an undrafted rookie punter. Philadelphia wouldn't have to give much of anything up in the deal and would get a potentially game-changing defensive tackle.

Sacks and forced fumbles are worth points, and the Eagles would only get better with a fully functioning Haynesworth up front.

Kevin Kolb Overrated or Just Overvalued?

It may be too soon to make the claim that Kevin Kolb is overrated, but he is quickly become one of the most overvalued trade pieces this offseason. He was slated to be next in line as quarterback for the Eagles, but was quickly replaced by Michael Vick. Kolb is young, has good size for a quarterback and has flashed some greatness in his limited action.

Could the team's in the running to trade for Kolb be dealing for a lemon of a quarterback?

Kolb has 20 games under his belt and has looked great in some instances and nothing more than average in others. He is in the running, along with Kyle Orton, to take over as quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. While the Cardinals have a tremendous talent at receiver in Larry Fitzgerald, Kolb hasn't done much in his seven starts with DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

He wasn't as good as the talent around him with the Eagles, so how can he be expected to make his future team better?

Consider Kolb a high risk high reward fantasy quarterback. He could stumble as a full-time starter or live up to the hype the Eagles have built for him. 

Steve Smith to the San Diego Chargers

Though Steve Smith and the Panthers have tried to put the rumors off as just rumors, there is no denying that Smith's best interest lie outside of Carolina. He is reaching the age where speed receivers start to lose a step and he can't very well spend them playing for a team that won two games last season.

The Chargers need to give Vincent Jackson good reason to stick around, and trading for Smith would be the perfect reason.

Smith is coming off of one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, but what do you expect when the likes of Jimmy Clausen and Matt Moore are under center. If Smith were to be traded to the Chargers, he would shoot up many fantasy draft boards playing alongside Jackson.

The Chargers have a lot of weapons, but none of them carry the reputation Smith would bring to the receiving corps.

If Smith remains in Carolina, expect him to be their best receiver with 700-800 yards and five touchdowns. If he is traded to San Diego, expect 800-1000 yards and eight or nine touchdowns. Smith's presence would also boost quarterback Philip Rivers's excellent passing numbers, and open up the running game as well.