Fantasy Football: 5 Halloween Tricks to Sell High Now

There you are, on the couch, enjoying a nice Monday Night Football Halloween brawl between the Chiefs and the Chargers. Suddenly your doorbell rings.

That's strange. No kid ever comes to your house for candy. It's too deep in the woods, and there are always wild animals and dirty vermin lurking around.

You shrug, pick up a small basket of candy, and walk to the door.

There's no kid there. There's nothing there. Who could have rang the doorbell? It must have just been my ears causing me problems, you think. You then walk back to the television.

Just then, your computer flashes. You have just been offered a trade in fantasy football.

Checking the trade, it looks pretty good. You are swapping a wide receiver for a running back, which you need. 

Just about when you are about to accept, the doorbell rings again. This time, you are sure it's for real.

Opening the door again, there's no one there. But in the distant shadows, you can make out a dark figure. He is wearing a robe, and standing seemingly in the middle of the creek. He seems to be cackling and mocking you, and you can seem to make out him saying, "Trick or Treat!"

You slam the door and shiver, feeling a little spooked. Suddenly, you think back to the fantasy football trade. Could it be a trick, part of a ploy to ravage your team?

Just then, you hear a wolf howling in the distance. You are sure you hear some loud cackling following it as well.

It's Halloween night alright. Know the tricks and treats fantasy football is going to throw at you.

Here are some "tricks" that you should either sell high or avoid.

Maurice Jones-Drew

Jones-Drew is the human bowling ball. He's hard to notice. By the time you catch a glimpse of him, he's already rumbling by.

Indeed, his nickname applies in fantasy, too. A first-round pick in most formats, MJD is quietly underwhelming. And few people are taking notice.

If you own him, ship him before he starts getting called out like Chris Johnson is. I managed to essentially "trick" my fellow league manager into trading Beanie Wells for this guy.

Wells is the 15th-ranked player on Yahoo in points per game. Jones-Drew is 38th. A total swindle, if I've ever seen one.

Don't let those stripes fool you. Maurice Jones-Drew is a trick.

Steven Jackson

Steven Jackson's value is at an all-time high right now. He's ripped off four straight good games, culminating with a single-handed demolition of the Saints.

It's time to sell the guy high. He's not going to continue this. The Saints' run defense isn't very good, and Jackson is known to wear down as the year continues.

It doesn't help that he's still the focal point of the defense. He'll be seeing eight men in the box quite often.

Sell the guy high while you can. I bet you could package him with a guy like Reggie Wayne for a true stud like Steve Smith (Car), Greg Jennings or Mike Wallace.

Now that would be a fleecing. Get it? Since Jackson is a ram ... or is he?

It could all be just a trick.

Fred Jackson

Fred Jackson is the second Jackson to appear on this list.

Jackson has been fantasy football's second-best running back of the year in points per game. He's been one of the year's biggest surprises.

Will his production continue? As much as you have to admire Jackson for his tenacity and heart, let's face it—he's a Bill.

And the Bills aren't the type to close out the year strong. They're the type to fall apart to mediocrity as the year continues, when the experienced late-season regulars like the Jets and the Patriots step up their game.

I don't know how many more tricks Jackson has in his bag, but don't take the risk. Sell the guy high now for a proven commodity like Peterson, Forte or Ray Rice.

Michael Turner

Michael Turner has been producing wonderfully this year.

But the guy is on pace for 315 carries this year.

Turner is the same guy who has led the league in carries in two of the past three years. He's also 29 years old, and runs in a tough physical style.

It's a formula that wears a back down and you have to wonder if Turner will fall ill to this formula.

Feel free to keep Turner for one more week against the miserable Colts. But then trade the dude for a much safer option, like Beanie Wells.

Wes Welker

Remember when people said that Welker was a product of Randy Moss opening up the defense?

Moss who? Yeah, Welker's pretty good. But the way he's producing right now isn't indicative of who he is.

Welker was never a touchdown guy. He averaged 5.5 touchdowns per season in his first four years as a Patriot. This year, he's on pace for just under 14.

It's not going to continue. Welker's going to show his true colors sooner or later, and teams have already started keying in on him a bit more.

As evidence, he averaged 154 yards and 1.25 touchdowns in his first four games. In the last three, he's averaged 69.3 yards and .3 touchdowns a game.

Remember that awesome mask of Randy Moss awhile back? Well, Welker is wearing one right now. Sell him high before he takes it off.

Happy Halloween

You quickly decline the trade sent by the owner.

I'm not getting tricked by some swindler, you think to yourself.

Then, you proudly walk back to the couch to continue watching that Chargers vs. Chiefs game. Nothing better than a nice game of football on Halloween night, you think.

Unfortunately, it's not just any night of the year. It's Halloween night. And if you thought the rest of the night would be smooth and easy, you'd be terribly wrong.

Read what happens next here.

Well, there you have it. These are the tricks you have to sell high this Halloween.

Happy Halloween!