Strategy - Do you trade Depth for top starters? (1 Viewer)

[CrazyHorse1581]

I've always been pretty fortunate in fantasy football and drafted well enough that I usually have plenty of depth at the RB and or WR positions. In the past I've always traded away the depth to do everything possible to have the best starters at each position. It works out pretty well as long as everyone stays healthy, but if one guy gets injured you're usually playing the waiver wire trying to fill that spot and it's very hit or miss.

What do you guys think? Is it a good strategy to trade depth in a redraft to maximize your starting talent? Right now I'm sitting on 6 of the top 25 RB's in our league and usually I'd be packaging a couple together for a top 5-10 guy. For some reason this season I feel more comfortable sitting on these guys this year and playing with the cards I'm dealt.

 

[jfranco77]

It depends who the 6 are, but if you can, you should absolutely try to consolidate. The problem is, right now who do you consolidate to? Who is an elite RB other than ADP? Probably Forte and MJD still are. And Chris Johnson. Are you really getting any of those guys? Do you want to trade all your depth for Gore or Ronnie Brown? I can see why you'd be hesitating.

[i have 4 of the top 30 myself, in a 12-teamer... but nobody will trade for McGahee, or give me full value for Pierre Thomas. So I'm stuck with wondering if I can really afford to trade D'Angelo]

 

[CrazyHorse1581]

You just nailed it. The only two I see worth trying to get are Peterson and MJD. Outside of that I feel better off rolling with what I've got. In terms of RB I'm not sure the value is worth it. I've thought about packaging a RB and Schaub to get Brees, but again I can't decide if the difference between Schaub and Brees is worth losing a quality RB for. Times are a changing, the days of having 5 top tier RB's are over in my opinion due to so many teams splitting the duties.

 

[MCguidance]

I will try and consolidate as late into the year as I can - taking into account the trade deadline, the potential trade partners, and injury history. Sometimes it doesn't come to fruition but I would rather have the depth at a position rather than be short come playoff time.

 

[Resident A]

I always try to trade depth for starter upgrades around week 10 for the playoff push. There will be teams struggling to make the playoffs who could really benefit from trading 2-3 decent players for 1 stud.

A shallow bench could be a killer thru the bye weeks. Especially if you lose any starters to injury.

 

[Black]

I always try to trade depth for starter upgrades around week 10 for the playoff push. There will be teams struggling to make the playoffs who could really benefit from trading 2-3 decent players for 1 stud.A shallow bench could be a killer thru the bye weeks. Especially if you lose any starters to injury.

Good post...one above it, too.Assuming redraft or shallow keeper leagues.

 

[senor peso 2006]

I do this. I try to build depth at single positions to trade for value. I've trade what would be my 4th WR to another team where he would become his 2nd WR in most weeks to inprove my kicker position. I wasn't going to use the WR (Stallworth at NO) unless something went really wrong and I gained about a 4 to 5 point weekly average with the added kicker (Gould CHI).

 

[ExtraPoint]

Always try to consolidate my roster in order to add more FAs.

That said, I've often traded away a player I drafted as depth, only to watch him outproduce my starter all season. Still, I never regret clearing roster space at the same time I get a player I wanted. Its the right move, just not always the right player.

 

[dagwood]

You just nailed it. The only two I see worth trying to get are Peterson and MJD. Outside of that I feel better off rolling with what I've got. In terms of RB I'm not sure the value is worth it. I've thought about packaging a RB and Schaub to get Brees, but again I can't decide if the difference between Schaub and Brees is worth losing a quality RB for. Times are a changing, the days of having 5 top tier RB's are over in my opinion due to so many teams splitting the duties.

Who are the six RB's....this year more than ever people who think they have depth really only have players slightly better than what is available on the waiver wire....Gee...you want to give me Derrick Ward and Willis McGahee for ADP....no thanx...I will just keep ADP and go pick up Rashard Mendhall off the waiver wire.....

 

[loose circuits]

Always try to consolidate my roster in order to add more FAs.That said, I've often traded away a player I drafted as depth, only to watch him outproduce my starter all season. Still, I never regret clearing roster space at the same time I get a player I wanted. Its the right move, just not always the right player.

 

[Moniker]

You just nailed it. The only two I see worth trying to get are Peterson and MJD. Outside of that I feel better off rolling with what I've got. In terms of RB I'm not sure the value is worth it. I've thought about packaging a RB and Schaub to get Brees, but again I can't decide if the difference between Schaub and Brees is worth losing a quality RB for. Times are a changing, the days of having 5 top tier RB's are over in my opinion due to so many teams splitting the duties.

I'm in the same position and also only see ADP and Gore as real clear-cut upgrades over what I have. Neither owner is running to the phone to accept any offers for those two...

 

[sinatravolta]

Variables that should be considered:

- Your record - if you're looking playoff-likely, you can start looking to trade away depth soon (less key to have bye weeks covered)

- Playoff schedule - as you look at trades - of course make sure you consider the player's playoff schedule. Of course as we get closer to the playoffs everyone will look at this - but if you're making trades now thinking about it - you're probably ahead of the game

- Trade partner's record - I always start looking at the worst teams - trying to trade depth to get their best player. They are more likely to be looking to shake things up and they usually could use the depth the most. Who are your WRs? Now is the time to be trading for the Jennings/White type that have disappointed so far and their owners are probably ready to move them for cheap.

But yeah - I think ultimately by the end of the year - you want to have the best starters. Sometimes you have to give up more than you get - but if it improves your starting lineup - it's worth it - especially near the end of the year. At this point - with byes and more time for injuries to occur - probably not worth it. But if you've got 6 RBs - and assuming you can only start 2 or 3 - you can start trading now to get a stronger starting lineup.

 

[MrSoup]

All day, everday.

Just last week I traded away McFadden, Driver, Manningham, and Heap, all players who wouldn't likely see my starting line-up, for Pierre Thomas, Chris Cooley, and MIN Def (PPR, mind you). Without Pierre or Cooley, I wouldn't have won this week.

You have to trade as if nobody will get injured and you won't need depth. That's my .02

 

[fightingillini]

Assuming that your 6 RBs are decent options, why not package one of them, along with a good WR and go for a stud WR like AJ or R Moss? Or trade a RB for a good WR like R White or Jennings? Or trade a RB for a top TE like Dallas Clark or Gates? Or top QB?

You don't have to just trade for a better RB. Unless you can acquire AP or MJD, you probably aren't going to upgrade enough to consolidate at RB.

Anyway, the goal is to maximize your starting lineup potential when the playoffs arrive. You definitely want to cash in on some of those RBs to get better players at other positions. But be picky. It's only Week 5. Target players that have easy schedules down the stretch. Make owners who are RB deficient become more desperate. For now, it's not the end of the world if 3 or 4 of your RBs sit on your bench......since they're not helping your opponents. But holding 6 solid RBs throughout the playoffs is not an optimal strategy as well.

 

[CrazyHorse1581]

Assuming that your 6 RBs are decent options, why not package one of them, along with a good WR and go for a stud WR like AJ or R Moss? Or trade a RB for a good WR like R White or Jennings? Or trade a RB for a top TE like Dallas Clark or Gates? Or top QB?You don't have to just trade for a better RB. Unless you can acquire AP or MJD, you probably aren't going to upgrade enough to consolidate at RB. Anyway, the goal is to maximize your starting lineup potential when the playoffs arrive. You definitely want to cash in on some of those RBs to get better players at other positions. But be picky. It's only Week 5. Target players that have easy schedules down the stretch. Make owners who are RB deficient become more desperate. For now, it's not the end of the world if 3 or 4 of your RBs sit on your bench......since they're not helping your opponents. But holding 6 solid RBs throughout the playoffs is not an optimal strategy as well.

My roster is in my sig, however this post wasn't meant as a AC thread. This is exactly what I'm talking about thought. Taking a deep position and pairing it up with a player to drastically improve another position. Not just the RB's.

 

[dagwood]

Assuming that your 6 RBs are decent options, why not package one of them, along with a good WR and go for a stud WR like AJ or R Moss? Or trade a RB for a good WR like R White or Jennings? Or trade a RB for a top TE like Dallas Clark or Gates? Or top QB?You don't have to just trade for a better RB. Unless you can acquire AP or MJD, you probably aren't going to upgrade enough to consolidate at RB. Anyway, the goal is to maximize your starting lineup potential when the playoffs arrive. You definitely want to cash in on some of those RBs to get better players at other positions. But be picky. It's only Week 5. Target players that have easy schedules down the stretch. Make owners who are RB deficient become more desperate. For now, it's not the end of the world if 3 or 4 of your RBs sit on your bench......since they're not helping your opponents. But holding 6 solid RBs throughout the playoffs is not an optimal strategy as well.

My roster is in my sig, however this post wasn't meant as a AC thread. This is exactly what I'm talking about thought. Taking a deep position and pairing it up with a player to drastically improve another position. Not just the RB's.

D.Williams - probably a number 1 pick and underperforming; also I am guessing he is one you plan on not movingR.Rice - nice player if you are in a PPR league; but locked in a bit of a RBBC which limits his trade valueM.Lynch - a lot of upside if you move him to the F.Jackson owner; less to someone elseK.Smith - probably your best trading piece especially in a PPR formatR.Williams - not a ton of trade value hereMendenhall - not a ton of trade value here unless you move him to W.Parker ownerNot sure you have enough emunition to get a top five RB; you are proably better off sitting pat and playing the matchups. The only way you stand a chance of prying away a top five back (ie ADP or MJD) is to package Smith and DWill.....and depending on who their RB2 is that may not even get it done...

 

[schu]

Trade depth for better starters whenever you can, in general, even when you are not purely getting the "best of it". Then work the waiver wire to refill. This is the classic way to dominate.

 

[millineum]

I'm kindof in the same boat. i have ALOT of runningbacks, just traded for slaton to make it even better. now i need to do a package deal to upgrade at wr or runningback.

i have

D. Williams

L. Tomlinson

Slaton

Benson

J. Jones

Mendenhall

i am trying to get randy moss from an owner with bad runningbacks. my 3 wr starting right now are R. Wayne, B. Marshall, Santana Moss.

what could i try to package together? right now i offered LT and S. Moss for randy moss. probably the worst time to try to trade LT. what else could i try?

 

[bulger2holt]

I have a quagmire at RB and am really thin at WR even though my starting wr's are great ( AJ, Wayne and Welker ). My RB's are

PT

Rice

D.Brown

Chester

Lynch

I would like to trade a RB for a solid WR for the playoff run but I don't want to trade the wrond RB until I figure out who steps up. I don't want to part with PT or Rice either. So it's basically either Brown, Chester and/or Lynch.

 

[schu]

Trade depth for better starters whenever you can, in general, even when you are not purely getting the "best of it". Then work the waiver wire to refill. This is the classic way to dominate.

The problem, of course, is finding someone to take you up on the offer.

That's why I say trade depth for starters even if the deal is somewhat lopsided in favor of the trading partner. If you work the wire hard this is possible. Too many would be traders offer waiver wire 241 or 341 for a starter quality player and wonder why no one will play ball. If you never have no doubts that the trade will work out in your favor then your league is not likely very competitive. You must be willing to lose some but as long as your goal is better starters you'll win in the long run.

 

[two_dollars]

I will try to do this, but not this early. I will after my main players are through their bye weeks. I will not trade with a division rival unless I have already played them or I'm definately safe and they won't make the playoffs anyway.

 

[flranger]

Always work to get studs. The perfect lineup is 10 guys you would never take out, with 5 guys who can hold their jock on the bench.