Dynasty Notebook: Tips for Making Better Trades

Trading in fantasy football is equal parts art and science. There are so many variables and tactics, and ultimately, no single correct way to get trades done.

But there are a few guiding principles that can help any dynasty manager be more efficient and make the most out of every negotiation.

And you might be surprised to find that many of these tips have little to do with Xs and Os or specific player values. Here are some things to consider before you send that trade offer:

Know Your Leaguemates

Sure, this is a little basic. But I swear this advice is as important as it is overlooked.

The people in your league want to feel seen. So let them know you understand who they are and what they value by sending trade offers that don’t activate their gag reflexes.

It’s so much easier to get a trade in the books when you know your leaguemates' tendencies: their likes, their dislikes, their favorite NFL team, if they have a bias against players who go by their initials, etc.

Learn their habits. Pay close attention to the moves they make and the things they say. Some fantasy platforms even let you browse through a person’s trade history. Check it out. See if they overreact to news blurbs or obsess over rookies.

And hey, maybe you discover they just don’t like to trade much. That’s also useful information! We can work with that. It just means you’ll need to be extra thoughtful with the few trades you do send their way.

Stop Trying to “Win” Every Trade

Way too many dynasty managers seem to think a trade is only worthwhile if they can post a screenshot of it to social media with the caption, “I just fleeced this mofo lol.”

It’s toxic nonsense. And sadly, even I’ve fallen victim to it from time to time. But we can all do better!

I often get these types of questions from well-meaning but misguided managers: “I traded Player X for Player Q. Did I win?”

There are a couple of problems with this mentality. First of all, it’s a binary question with a non-binary answer. Yeah, sometimes it’s easy to identify the better side of a trade in a vacuum. But usually, we need more context. What’s the rest of your roster look like? Are you rebuilding or contending? Do you get extra points if the player has a really cool nickname? (AKA the Bam Knight Factor.)

Second, people who fixate on “winning” trades develop a bad reputation in their league, somewhere between Patrick Bateman and “the guy who takes his shoes off on an airplane.” Those constantly lopsided trade offers set off alarm bells. You’ll become untrustworthy. People will stop responding to your offers. Then they’ll stop sending them. Eventually, your only hope of getting a deal done is to drastically overpay as a sign of good faith or wait until a new person joins the league who isn’t familiar with your shenanigans.

So stop asking “Did I win the trade?” and start asking “Does this trade make sense for both of us?” Plenty of good trades do (and should) benefit both sides.

Keep Sales Pitches to a Minimum

Do you enjoy the process of buying a new car? How about a nice afternoon at an aggressive timeshare presentation? Is that how you like to spend your day?

Of course not. Only psychopaths get pleasure from being on the receiving end of a high-pressure sales pitch. And it’s always best to assume your leaguemates are not psychopaths, at least until proven otherwise.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve politely declined a trade offer only to be met with a long rant about how I “don't know ball” and am “making a huge mistake.” Because, you see, those mid-tier players they’re offering for my stud receiver are actually right on the verge of major breakouts! I could be getting three soon-to-be studs for the price of one if I just ACT NOW!

So why doesn’t the person sending this offer want to hold onto those three ascending superstars? Hey…don’t ask rational questions. JUST CLICK ACCEPT!

Ok, you get the point. It’s fine to provide a little elevator pitch with your offer. “Hey, I could really use some receiver depth, and it seems like you might need a tight end. I’m open to counters.” Something simple.

Usually, a good offer should stand on its own. You shouldn’t need to explain why it makes sense. But sometimes laying your cards on the table helps generate a conversation rather than a rejection.

Just don’t get pushy. And keep the snake oil in your carriage.

Utilize Tools Wisely

There’s nothing wrong with using every tool at your disposal to assess and make trades. Rankings are great. Trade calculators can be useful. These are nice resources, and there’s a reason we have a section of our website dedicated to them.

(Now here comes a but so big it would make Sir Mix-a-Lot blush.)

BUT those tools shouldn't be a crutch. Too often, folks treat them as law. But they’re not perfect, and they don’t always capture nuance. And they certainly shouldn’t be used to bully your leaguemate into accepting a trade. (Sending them a screenshot of a trade calculator should be punishable by a minimum of six months working for the Jets.)

Tools are best used as a jumping-off point or a check to ensure your offer isn’t way off consensus.

Know When to Walk Away

I’m not trying to go all Kenny Rogers on you here, but look, the guy made some salient points in that song.

Allow me to set the table: You’ve invested a lot of time workshopping the ideal trade package. In your eyes, it’s perfect for both parties. But the other person wants something more. Or something different. So you spend even more time countering and negotiating and tweaking until the trade looks nothing like your original offer.

Now you’re three hours in, as many beers deep, and you missed your kid’s middle school performance of Pippin. But a deal is so close you can taste it. And you want that dopamine hit.

That, friends, is probably a sign you should take a step back and recalibrate. Don’t get so caught up in the frenzied back and forth that you abandon all rationale. Take a break. Tell them you need to sleep on it. Maybe you’ll come back to it with fresh eyes and still decide to move forward. Or maybe you’ll realize you avoided a big mistake.

After all, the secret to dynasty trading is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep.