In-Season Management (1 Viewer)

[Peiz]

I did some searching and didn't see anything like this probably because it seems like a dumb discussion but...

How do you guys approach improving your team during the season? I'm curious because I listen and read a ton of stuff that talks about playing waivers and negotiating great trades, which is stuff I try to do, but I never seem to figure out exactly how to find the trades that will help my team. I think a lot of my problem in year's past is that I draft my team and kind of watch it do it's thing while just tinkering with the lineup.

I guess I wanted to see a discussion on what tools you may use, what you look for (i.e. filling positions, finding depth players, etc.), and other things that make what something that the "Rate My Team" app calls "Great" in-season management.

Sorry if this sounds like a newbie question. I've been playing fantasy for 10 years and just found the greatness of this site this year, so hopefully my fortunes change. And hopefully this is the right forum for this type of discussion.

 

[QUEZILLA]

It's hard to trade in the beginning of the season because everyone overvalues the guys they drafted. Waivers can also be difficult because everyone likes to blow their load on the first few big names of the season. You can often focus on picking up the guys that get dropped for the hot new name. People may drop talent in hopes of the next Colston.

Another thing is to start looking several weeks out at bye weeks. Look at what weeks you will be weak and what weeks your opponents will. You may be able to sell an owner on a trade by letting him know the guy will help his team out on a bye week.

Don't be afraid to roster young RBs. An example of this is Jamaal Charles last season. He was destined to find the field but it took a little while.

Know your league rules backwards & forwards.

If you have rotating waivers don't waste your chance at the top of the order on a player that likely wont get picked up. Wait for waivers to go through then pick up your D or bye week kicker. Then if a FA emerges that week you are still at the top of waivers.

Get several teams. By seeing what is going on in other leagues you will know who to target.

 

[Peiz]

It's hard to trade in the beginning of the season because everyone overvalues the guys they drafted. Waivers can also be difficult because everyone likes to blow their load on the first few big names of the season. You can often focus on picking up the guys that get dropped for the hot new name. People may drop talent in hopes of the next Colston.Another thing is to start looking several weeks out at bye weeks. Look at what weeks you will be weak and what weeks your opponents will. You may be able to sell an owner on a trade by letting him know the guy will help his team out on a bye week.Don't be afraid to roster young RBs. An example of this is Jamaal Charles last season. He was destined to find the field but it took a little while. Know your league rules backwards & forwards. If you have rotating waivers don't waste your chance at the top of the order on a player that likely wont get picked up. Wait for waivers to go through then pick up your D or bye week kicker. Then if a FA emerges that week you are still at the top of waivers.Get several teams. By seeing what is going on in other leagues you will know who to target.

Yeah, I think the biggest hold up is that most people simply overvalue their guys so it's hard to get people to do trades that actually make sense. I'm guessing more moves are made on waivers by simply keeping up with who is going to break out. I can see already I'm overvaluing young prospects when really it would be a good idea to be looking to move people that haven't proven much but are highly thought of.

 

[Giants4Life]

I will use the waiver wire a lot. If I see that starting RBs are either struggling or banged up, I will make sure to grab their backups if I have an extra spot. I also stream kickers and defenses based on opponents.

Definitely make trade offers for underperforming players. You never know who will bite.

And finally, I think the biggest thing is to watch as many games as possible. A few years ago, I caught most of the first three Pats games. I noticed they kept throwing to this little white guy Wes Welker. He wasn't putting up eye-popping stats yet, but I just had a feeling that they'd use him a lot more than what he had produced...So after Week 3 or 4, I offered Mike Furrey/Tatum Bell/Brandon Jackson for Welker and an underperforming RB (I think it was Jones-Drew).

And Welker turned out to be a dominant WR.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

trades: it starts with acquiring depth through the draft and then looking to exploit weaknesses in other owners rosters by giving them a player/s who may be stuck on your bench, but could start for him....and in return you upgrade at a position

WW/add drops: always look ahead and always look to improve your team, cut dead weight and pick up guys, if you pass on your ww pick "just cause", not only are you not improving, but you are allowing others teams to improve.....sometimes you should pick up a guy even if you don't think you will ever play him....just so somebody else can't....doing things like this then allows you more trading leverage......pay attention to your roster but also the roster of your competitors and anticipate what they may need/do and beat them to it.....forcing their hand to maybe trade with you

 

[tombonneau]

I find if you really want a an up and coming "hot" guy, you have to be willing to overpay and make the famed offer that they can't refuse. You need to put your trade partner in the position of feeling smart as they are selling high. Of course you also have to be dead right and recoup your investment and then some. (Thats the tricky part.)

 

[Insein]

For trades to me, I look at the other teams rosters, find their weak areas and try to see if they match my depth. If I have 4 QBs that are producing decent stats and he has only 1 good QB and 1 bad (2QB league), I'll try to offer one of my QB's and a backup for a starter at WR or RB. Throw trades out there too because not eveything will work but you might get a guy in a bad moment and they will bite.