Being a GM of a fantasy football team is interesting. It requires taking risks, evaluating players properly and knowing when it’s time for a player to exit your team. This past week I pulled a three way trade that affected my team. Trent Richardson was traded to team A, Jason Witten went to team B, and Percy Harvin went to team C. This trade was a position trade as my team’s tight end, Owen Daniels, went down with an injury early in the season. With a need for a tight end I made a small trade to cover myself for a few weeks, acquiring Brandon Pettigrew. However, in order for my roster to go deep into the postseason I needed a stud at tight end. Team A needed a running back as Doug Martin went down with an injury and the team needed help at that position. Team C was looking for insurance at the wide receiver position and took a risk on Percy Harvin, knowing that his value will be earned later on in the season and potentially for the playoffs. Who won the trade? I would have to give it to Team C, who got Percy Harvin. With Sidney Rice going down with a torn ACL, Harvin’s production will only increase once he returns to health. He will be slowly implemented into the offense and like he did in Minnesota, will be part of the running game in wildcat and direct snap formations. I could see Harvin running alongside Russell Wilson in a read option game as well. Loser in the trade: Trent Richardson. Richardson has been going downhill since he was traded to the Colts. He has seen fewer carries and seems to be a different runner. In Cleveland, he was the only source of offensive but in Indy he seems to be in for pass blocking, his fantasy numbers have been down and he had yet another disappointing performance this past week. The 3 keys to making a three way trade are the following: 1. Find 2 trading partners 2. Look for the team’s weakness 3. Know what the owners want Before you make a three way trade there are a few aspects you must look at. First, look down the road to see the player’s schedule. If the player you want has a tough schedule you may be hesitant to acquire the player, especially if those matchups are tough in the playoffs. Second, you should look for the bye week as well and know when your players have their bye. The worst scenario is having no running back and having to scramble to find a back. Lastly, offer your bench. If the third wheel partner is not that interested in a trade or is hesitant, offer some bench players you have. The bench players could catch other owner’s eyes. It is worth giving up your bench to acquire a superstar.
More must-reads: