Some people are claiming that it would take the #1 overall pick for them to trade Stewart, and I think very, very few people would even consider giving that up. Again, trade value isn't what you would ask for him, it is what someone else is willing to give you. Stewart isn't fetching anything near what his value was as a rookie in any of my leagues, I find it hard to believe you can get a 200 pt. RB for him. Neither is Reggie, Moreno, Mendy, Beanie, Best, Ingram, Crabtree, etc.
I agree, their value isn't going to fall as much as a 30 year olds would if they have a bad season, but their value can (and does) fall. If he goes out and has an Ingram-like season (which I highly doubt), no way will you be able to get #3 RB value for him next offseason. Don't get me wrong, I like him a lot and he should be the #1 pick in just about every rookie draft. I just don't agree that he'll hold his value regardless of how he does (which is probably moot since I expect he'll do well).
I actually think this is pretty wrong. There are countless examples of highly touted rookies, specifically running backs, that struggle in their first year, yet retain their exact same value. You use Ingram as an example to prove your point of players losing value, yet Ingram, despite what can be classified as a terrible rookie campaign from a fantasy football standpoint, currently carries just about identical value to what he had prior to this season. In any dynasty league that you owned Ingram in, you would likely find willing suitors who would give up the same kind of player or package of players that you could have gotten prior to the 1st game of 2011. Other recent examples are Reggie Bush, Darren McFadden, Cedric Benson, C.J. Spiller (this is actually the player that saw his value drop the most, yet he was STILL able to be traded for a relatively high price), Ryan Mathews, Jonathan Stewart, etc... I can go on, but the point is essentially EVERY highly drafted running back that had a disappointing 1st season was able to be moved for essentially the exact same price he would have cost prior to that disappointing season.The point is only amplified the more highly touted the rookie is. In Richardson's case, like I said before, there is practically zero scenarios that would see him lose value. It wouldn't matter if he started every game, gained 250 yards at 1.5 YPC and looked mediocre. There would absolutely be someone willing to take him off your hands for a very high price still. There are hardly any players you can find in a startup that provide that much stability in value.
Lastly, someone mentioned that they don't care about trade value and only want points for their lineup. I think that is a very backwards way to look at things. Sure points are nice in the short term, but in the end the team that has the most value on it, and is able to trade that and maximize it's potential to fill needs, ebb and flow with championship windows, etc.. will end up better and more successful. Trent Richardson is so valuable to a roster because he has a very good chance to produce high level production, or points, for your lineup. However, even if he doesn't, he will still be able to net you a different asset in a trade that WILL provide that production. This basically GUARANTEES you a high level of production by drafting Richardson, whether it's via Richardson or someone else after trading him. I'm not sure there are more than a handful of players that you can say that can provide that.
Come on man. Where do you honestly think he goes in start ups?
