Victor Cruz

Home/Tag: Victor Cruz

Fantasy Football: New York Giants Start/Sit Week 2

The New York Giants could not have started the season worse from a real life football perspective. Mental and physical errors plagued the Giants as they fell behind a divisional opponent in an important week one matchup. The Dallas Cowboys took advantage of every mistake and built up a lead that Eli and his receivers were almost able to overcome. The frantic comeback attempt had Eli Manning and his receivers at the top of fantasy leader boards.

Eli was able to overcome three interceptions and throw for 450 yards and 4 touchdowns. Victor Cruz ended up as the third-highest scoring wide receiver in fantasy football and proved to be the Giants best chess piece as he absolutely killed the Dallas Cowboys. Hakeem Nicks looked quick as he was able to top 100 yards, but wasn’t able to get in the end zone.  Rueben Randlewas a surprise fantasy producer as he broke the 100 yard barrier as well, but I wouldn’t expect that every week. Brandon Myers picked up a lot of action late to put him among the top tight ends of a high-scoring week one in fantasy football.

The only offensive player to not get in on the action was David Wilson. Wilson not only disappointed Giants’ fans with his poor play, but also became one of the all time biggest week one busts in recent fantasy football memory. For example, Wilson was the fourth-most selected player (31 percent of teams) in daily fantasy football drafts on DraftStreet for week one yet managed to actually put up a negative score. In contrast, Manning was only picked for 2.4 percent of daily fantasy lineups yet finished as the number two player at his position.

Wilson’s fumbling and the Cowboys’ opportunistic defense definitely inflated the Giants fantasy numbers, but if you think the Giants players are in for a big correction in week two you may miss out on some serious fantasy points. The Manning brothers may put on a show in week two and hopefully for us we can not only see the Giants come out on top, but win some fantasy football match-ups as well.

Eli Manning — NumberFire has Eli Manning slated for 287.44 yards passing, 1.56 touchdowns, and 1.49 interceptions. I have Eli topping 300 yards and throwing 2 touchdowns. As I am a Giant fan I do not like to give the statistical probability on turnovers, but if your league has a high negative for turnovers you can expect at least one.

David Wilson — NumberFire has Wilson getting 15.05 carries for 54.78 yards and .34 rushing touchdowns. They also have him catching 2.77 passes for 19.31 yards. I am keeping Wilson on the bench this week if I have a viable option to start over him, but if I don’t I would expect 12 carries for 63 yards and 2 catches for 14 yards. I am not selling him just yet and have seen running backs bounce back from similar disasters.

Victor Cruz Salsa

Victor Cruz — NumberFire has Cruz getting 5.75 receptions, 76.72 yards, and .41 touchdowns. I have Cruz once again having a big week as he will be matched up against a sub-par pair of safeties and more than likely the fourth corner on the team. I have Cruz catching 8 balls for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Hakeem Nicks — NumberFire has Nicks getting 5.24 receptions, 60.12 yards, and .31 touchdowns. I think Nicks showed in week one that he was sleep walking through the preseason. He looked very good even in a tough matchup against Brandon Carr and I expect a bigger game from him in week two. I have Nicks catching 7 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Rueben Randle — NumberFire has Randle catching 2.60 balls for 40.45 yards and .14 touchdowns. I think we were all pleasantly surprised at how quickly Randle became a big piece of the Giants passing attack against the Cowboys in week one. I have Randle catching 4 passes for 65 yards and no touchdowns.

Brandon Myers — NumberFire has Myers catching 3.70 passes for 40.14 yards and .22 touchdowns. The Ravens really worked their tight ends against the Broncos in week one, but I think that had more to do with the fact that they are very thin at wide receiver. I like that Myers was able to show a nice rapport with Eli at the end of the game against the Cowboys and I think that could carry over to this week. I have Myers catching 5 passes for 56 yards and no touchdowns.

Wilson is not the only running back whoneeds to bounce back from a disappointing week one.  Stevan Ridley found himself benched after fumbling twice when he was expected to put up huge fantasy numbers against the Bills.  Shane Vereen filled in for Ridley and was the only running back to top 100 yards rushing on Sunday, but wound up breaking a bone in his wrist.   C.J. Spiller, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Lamar Miller all had nightmare starts to their seasons and hope to get back on track week two.

If you need any last minute fantasy advice make sure to follow me on Twitter @Coachesser or like my Facebook page CoachEsser’s Playbook so that you can message me at any time. You can also see all of my latest podcasts and articles by visiting www.coachesser.com.

This post originally appeared at www.bigblueview.com on September 11th 2013.

Read More

Fantasy Football: New York Giants Start/Sit

Fantasy drafts are finally behind us and now it’s time to put on our best managerial hats and make sure we don’t leave fantasy points on the bench. Nothing drives you more nuts then when you see a matchup that screams huge fantasy production, yet you don’t make the appropriate lineup changes. For example, a reader sent me a start/sit question that screamed matchup play. This particular reader needed advice on who to start as their third wide receiver for week 1 between Steve Smith and Lance Moore. Without looking at the schedule some might say, ” I drafted Steve Smith in the sixth round and Lance Moore in the ninth round, so I should obviously start Smith.” Wrong! Steve Smith is facing the Seattle Seahawks Defense and Lance Moore is playing at home on turf in an expected shootout against the Atlanta Falcons. It might be Moore’s best matchup of the season. Playing the matchups at your flex position or third wide receiver will win you a championship.

Eli Manning

Eli Manning: 23-of-34, 264 Yards, 3 TDs

Eli Manning and Kevin Gilbride had to hit the film room to try and get handle on on what to expect from Monte Kiffin’s new 4-3 defense in Dallas. While Kiffin has been out of the NFL the last few years, his core defensive principals are still being used around the league. The key to beating Monte Kiffin’s best defenses was always taking what the defense was willing to give. Exploiting the areas between the deep safeties and linebackers and keeping the chains moving. The last thing you want to do against a Kiffin defense is to get into too many third and longs. I think Eli will be able to work the middle of the field with a combination of Victor Cruz and Brandon Myers and exploit Dallas’s weakness at the safety position. I have Eli as a borderline QB1 for week one and a definite start in 2QB leagues.

David Wilson: 21 carries, 88 yards, 2 receptions 23 yards, 0 TDs

The New York Giants running game will be a little hard to predict out of the gate against the Dallas Cowboys this season. The reshuffled offensive line mixed with some question marks because of injuries further cloud the actual production that should be expected. If Henry Hynoski and David Baas were healthy Wilson may be a top 10 start against the Cowboys, but for now we have to temper our expectations just a bit. I would only keep Wilson on the bench this week if I had started a draft with three straight running backs, or if the league was a full point PPR league where Wilson was my third running back.

Victor Cruz (If Healthy): 8 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD

Victor Cruz is the best chess piece that Gilbride and Manning possess going against Dallas this week. His ability to threaten the entire middle of the field from settling in behind the linebackers to driving past safeties can make a defensive coordinator have nightmares.  In a typical “Tampa Two” look the middle linebacker will have deep middle in certain situations and that could be a nightmare for Sean Lee as Victor Cruz blows by him. I have Cruz as one of the best wide receiver plays this week as long as his bruised heel cooperates.

Hakeem Nicks: 4 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD

Nicks is a bit of a conundrum. He is the guy that made Jerry Jones open up his wallet to sign Brandon Carr and draft Morris Claiborne, but is he still that guy?  I have a feeling Hakeem is going to have a very good year this season, but I don’t think this is the ideal matchup for his skill set. If his quickness is there he could find the void between the corner and the safety by beating the Dallas corners at the line of scrimmage, but the odds are slightly against him. I still have him in the top 20 as far as matchups this week, but he is more of a flex play then WR2.

Brandon Myers

Brandon Myers: 6 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD

Brandon Myers and Manning didn’t exactly inspire confidence in the preseason, but the matchup in week 1 screams tight end production. Myers should be able to exploit the middle of the field and the flats to put up tight end 1 numbers after being almost invisible in the preseason. NumberFire has Brandon Myers as their number seven tight end for week 1 and I think that sounds about right after looking at the macthups.

Rueben Randle: 4 receptions, 52 yards, 0 TDs

While Randle is an important part of what the Giants offense there are too many other good wide receiver matchups around the league to think that Randle should be in anyone’s week 1 fantasy lineup.  I like Randle’s long term outlook, but his immediate value is only in the deepest of leagues.

 

For any of your last minute Fantasy Football questions follow me on Twitter @Coachesser or message me by liking my Facebook Page CoachEsser’s Playbook.  If you need start/sit advice fast go to my website www.coachesser.com and use my start/sit widget powered by NumberFire.

Read More

Fantasy Football:NY Giants BreakoutCandidates

The New York Giants are one of the key teams this year in fantasy football. While some teams are almost entirely ignored during drafts, like our neighbors the New York Jets, the Giants have seven players that will be drafted in almost every 12 team fantasy football league. Here we take a look at all seven and their potential to breakout.

Eli Manning

Eli Manning– Eli’s fantasy football stock has come down since last year and that’s just fine by me. While Eli was unable to match his 2011 numbers in 2012, he may be able to surpass those 2011 numbers this year. Eli will rely on a veteran offensive line to keep him upright as he looks to put up huge numbers. The loss of Ahmad Bradshaw will be tough as he was an excellent pass blocking running back and was proven pass catcher out of the backfield.Andre Brown and David Wilson will vie for their touches in the passing game, but only if they can pick up the blitz when called upon. A healthy Hakeem Nicks, a content Victor Cruz, and an emerging Rueben Randle will have defensive backfields on their heels. Brandon Myers is a steady tight end who is an excellent route runner and has soft hands which will be a nice addition for Manning. With all of these weapons Eli could break his career highs and reach the golden QB territory of 5, 000 yards and 30+ touchdowns. One thing he will not and should not do is run with the ball.

David Wilson – I may sound like I am beating a dead drum, but David Wilson’s talent will be hard to ignore. He must prove himself a willing blocker before he gets the keys to the Giants’ backfield, but his skills are undeniable. His biggest comparison player in fantasy football has been C. J. Spiller who was a break out star last year after starting the season as the second running back in Buffalo. Talented backs like Spiller and Wilson are hard to keep on the bench especially after they pick up the nuances of the pro game. if Wilson averages 15 touches a game he is an excellent RB2 this season.

Andre Brown – I fully expect Andre Brown to be a big piece of this offense if he stays healthy. Brown totaled 8 rushing touchdowns last year in limited duty and will be the featured goal-line back this season. His ADP is extremely low for his scoring potential and might be one of the best value picks of a fantasy football draft this year. If Brown gets 15+ touches plus goal-line work he will be a low-end RB2 and excellent flex option.

Hakeem Nicks – Hakeem’s skills are never in question, it’s just his health. With Nicks being extra careful this offseason and not pushing through little injuries here and there, he will be entering the season the healthiest he has been in at least two years. With the extra motivation of a big free agent pay day hanging over his head he could outperform his current ADP by leaps and bounds. He had been drafted as the 5th WR off the boars in previous drafts and now he is being drafted somewhere around the 16th wide receiver off the board. He can easily be a top 8 wide receiver if he stays healthy. 70-85 receptions,1200-1350 Yards, 8-12 TDs should be easily attainable if he is healthy.

Victor Cruz

Victor Cruz – Victor Cruz could have had a lost season if the Giants didn’t step up to the plate and sign their star receiver from Patterson New Jersey. With Cruz reporting to training camp with a fat new contract in hand he will be eager to live up the money. Sometimes that pressure can be tough to overcome, but Cruz has faced tougher challenges in life and come out on top. I expect Cruz to continue his dominance as one of the best inside wide receivers in the game as he has already shaken off the rust and linked up with Eli Manning in the preseason for a 57 yard touchdown against the Steelers. 80-90 receptions, 1100-1300 yards and 9-11 touchdowns would be an excellent season for this Giants’ star.

Rueben Randle – I have already posted today about Randle’s break out potential, but it’s worth noting that Kevin Gilbride has been personally singled out Randle time and time again during training camp and OTA’s as being one of the best Giants on the practice field. His time may not be this year as he could be Nicks eventual replacement, but in deeper leagues Randle could be a great lottery ticket. If there is an injury to a starting wide receiver there may be no more talented receiver, who’s currently not a starter, to step up and take his place. I expect Randle to have 40-50 receptions for 800-900 yards and 6-8 touchdowns.

Brandon Myers – While in most 10 team leagues Myers may be overlooked on draft day he is being drafted on most sites as the 13th tight end going off the board. Myers production will pale in comparison to his 2012 season in Oakland where he was the only option in the passing game, but he will be a nice piece to the Giants passing game puzzle. His route running savvy and soft hands will make an excellent fourth option in the Giants passing attack. I expect Myers to have 45-60 receptions, 500-650 yards, and 6-10 touchdowns. Not bad numbers for your back up tight end.

This article originally appeared at www.bigblueview.com on July 17th, 2013.

Read More

Is Eli Manning Elite? From a Fantasy Football Perspective

Is Eli Manning elite? Ask a New York Giants fan and you will get an emphatic “Yes!” as they describe the Super David TyreeBowl winning drives and calm nerves displayed in every big spot. Magician-like throws to David Tyree and Mario Manningham are described in high definition quality while smiles spread across their faces. As John Malkovic in “Rounders” said,”The kid has got alligator blood.” Great quarterbacks are measured by championships and not by numbers on a page.

Win a road playoff game at Lambeau Field? Check!

Win a Super Bowl against an undefeated team of destiny? Check!

Face the New York Media day in and day out and never embarrass the franchise? Check!

You ask a fantasy football owner the same question and you get a completely different reaction. Most fantasy owners wouldn’t be very comfortable coming out of a draft this year with Eli Manning as their QB1 unless they were in a 2 QB league. Manning looked to be heading up the fantasy QB ladder after his fine 2011 season, but followed that up with an average 2012. He almost reached the magical 5,000 passing yard milestone in 2011 but fell 67 yards short. He threw 29 touchdowns against 16 interceptions and looked to be in a tier just below the top 3 fantasy QBs heading into 2012. His average draft position was at an all-time high last year as he was drafted as the eighth overall QB in fantasy drafts. Unfortunately Manning didn’t even reach 4000 yards, but still managed 26 touch downs in 2012.

While Manning’s disappointing 2012 in fantasy production may have left a bad taste in some mouths, I am not adverse at taking a second bite of the apple. I don’t believe his career is headed in the wrong direction. I really see him as being in his prime and just needing the pieces around him to play at a higher level. He still has the arm strength, he still has the alligator blood and now he has a healthy Hakeem Nicks. Not only does he have Nicks, but he has a motivated Cruz, an emerging Rueben Randle and a reliable Brandon Myers.

With opposing defenses being forced to defend every inch of the field again I believe Eli will put up excellent numbers. I project him for 4,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. While I would love to think that Eli could challenge 5,000 yards again, I have to be realistic. Most QBs who throw for 5,000 yards get a lot of added yardage from dumping the ball off to running backs in the passing game. Look at what Darren Sproles has done for Drew Brees and what his absence has taken away from Phillip Rivers. Getting a feel for how to be patient and feel the defense on screen passes is an art. Wilson has the talent to be a weapon, but I need to see his feel for the passing game before I count on 500 or more yards from him. If Wilson ends up with the 280 yards receiving that I project for him this year than that puts Eli in the 4,200-4,300 zone.

Eli ManningI have Eli Manning as my last QB1 in a 12 team conventional scoring league. Many sites have Russell Wilson ranked ahead of Eli at this point, but I still feel Seattle is a run first team that won’t ask Wilson to do too much in his second year. Manning will more than likely be drafted from rounds 7 to 10 in 12 team leagues this year. Sometimes as a last resort QB1 and sometimes as a quality backup to a running QB like RG III or Cam Newton. While he may not be drafted high, Eli can still lead your team to the fantasy championship. He just might need a little help from your other positions. Eli is not in my top 10 fantasy quarterbacks as of right now, but he is the only QB I want with the ball in his hands in the fourth quarter of a big game in real life! Ernie Accorsi had the vision and the guts. Tom Coughlin and Kevin Gilbride had the patience. And we as Giant fans are reaping the benefits.

This article originally appeared at www.bigblueview.com on June 21st, 2013

Read More

Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks are a Fantasy Football Dynamic Duo

The importance of drafting a Wide Receiver high in fantasy drafts has never been lower. With the NFL making rule changes every time you turn around. The defense has never been more at a disadvantage. Quarterbacks are free to pick apart toothless secondaries and rack up numbers that have never been seen in the modern game, while defenses have to play Roger Goodell’s version of flag football. The game is safer for the receiver, but almost impossible for a defensive back.

The reason I have the wide receiver position as a low draft priority is not because of a lack of production, but the exact opposite. There is production everywhere. Wide receivers can step up off the streets and became productive fantasy receivers. Just look at Danario Alexander and Cecil Shorts III last year. Alexander was a balky knee free agent who found his way into many fantasy lineups while Shorts III was a small school (Mount Union) after thought that played at an elite level for a number of games last year. Alexander averaged 92.5 yards and .833 TDs from week 9 to week 14 when he became the only reliable target for Phillip Rivers in San Diego. Shorts III averaged 90 yards and .625 TDs from weeks 7 through 15 when he finally became a full time starter for the Jaguars. For comparisons sake A J Green who finished as one of the top fantasy wide receivers last year and is projected in my top 6 this year averaged 84.375 yards and .6875 TDs over the course of 16 games. It just goes to show you that production can come from anywhere in the draft or on the waiver wire when it comes to the wide receiver position.

NFL teams used to have one fantasy relevant receiver, but now some teams feature as many as three high-round draftable wide receivers. The addition ofWes Welker in Denver makes for a great competition for targets between him, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. While many teams feature fantasy stud bookends like the Giants, some teams still sadly have no sure fire fantasy starters such as the NY Jets, and the Oakland Raiders, but these are the exceptions to the rule.

I currently only have six wide receivers as my clear cut WR1s and 20 others as low-end WR1 to WR2 status. That’s 26 wide receivers who are virtually interchangeable. There are draft tiers within the 26, but overall it’s hard to separate the masses. I have never seen a list that screamed at me to wait more than this year’s wide receivers list. I have a few wide receivers that could make a charge up to top 3 statuses with improved play either by themselves or by their quarterbacks. Larry Fitzgerald could make the leap back up to elite if Carson Palmer resembles the guy we knew in Cincinnati and falls in love with Fitzgerald as a target. While Dez Bryant closed out last season like a man on fire and could continue his maturation into becoming a top 3 fantasy wide receiver. Last, but certainly not least, is Roto-darling Julio Jones. Jones has been trumpeted as the next Calvin Johnson for two years now, but the presence of Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez always make his targets and production less than expected. (Not to mention his balky hamstrings)

Victor Cruz & Hakeem NicksWe, as Giants fans, are living in a golden age of fantasy wide receiver relevance. We have two wide receivers in Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruzwho could easily play up to WR1 status and at worst are excellent WR2 options. The only draw-back for a lot of us is “Giant fan draft bias” in a lot of our leagues. What I mean by “Giant fan draft bias” is we may have to reach a little during the draft to get our Giants’ wide receivers as there are usually a few fans of the Giants in our local in-person drafted leagues. Reaching a little for Hakeem Nicks over say Vincent Jackson is not a big deal. Nicks or Jackson could and should play to WR1 status and you might as well have a Giant to root for doubly on Sundays. But taking Victor Cruz over Calvin Johnson may be a mortal sin. I have to check on that, but I’m pretty sure.

Giant fan fantasy GMs have had a long drought at the wide receiver position, as far as having a clear cut WR1 to draft and root for. Plaxico Burress was a high end WR2 in his heyday with the Giants while Steve Smith was a WR1 in PPR leagues during the 2009 season. Amani Toomer had a nice run as a WR2 from 1999 to 2003 as he averaged 1,169 yards receiving and 6.5 touchdowns, but only threatened WR1 status once. Toomer’s 2002 season of 1,343 yards receiving and 8 TDs was the standard of New York Giants fantasy receiver production before the current dynamic duo.

Just to prove a point let’s have a trivia question.

Question: Which decade saw more Giants’ 1,000-yard wide receivers (and who were they) the ’80s or ’90s? Answer provided at the bottom.

While Burress could be counted on for touchdowns and Smith for receptions, no one could combine the overall receiver skills that both Nicks and Cruz possess. They can both challenge the 100-reception plateau and should easily reach 1000 yards. They can score from anywhere on the field and both could make a run at the league lead in touchdowns. The emergence of Rueben Randle as a third receiver and the additions of Brandon Myers and Louis Murphy should also free up Nicks and Cruz to become even more valuable moving forward. Not to mention they are both vying for lucrative long term contracts.

Nicks played as mostly a decoy last year as foot and knee issues held up his production (692 yards and 3 TDs). Cruz was forced to carry the load and showed some inconsistency in his game as he had some drops (fourth in the league with 12) and frustrating play. Mike Francesa recently intimated that Cruz had lost a step while speaking on his radio show, but I did not see that when I watched the film. I saw a team that was not able to free up their weapon on enough occasions as Nicks was injured and Hixon was playing on two bad knees. Ramses Barden received the same attention from secondaries as he did in free-agency, none, when he was forced into the lineup. This lack of a secondary option forced Cruz into facing double and triple teams and bracket coverage in many games. Cruz and Nicks should be hungry as they are both in contract years and could push the Giants passing game to heights never before reached.

Not since Homer Jones during the 1967 season have the Giants had the No. 1 overall fantasy wide receiver. That Homer Jonesdrought could easily come to an end if the Giants fire on all cylinders this season. The best part is it could be Cruz or Nicks who makes the leap to league leader and we, as Giants’ fans and fantasy GMs, can reap the benefits. Barring injuries and contract holdouts I project Victor Cruz to post 1,280 receiving yards with 9 touchdowns and Hakeem Nicks to go for 1,330 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. I like both in the third to fourth round in most redraft formats. If you can get Nicks in the top of the fifth round count yourself lucky and ahead of the game as his injury history might see his stock fall.

You can follow me on twitter @coachesser or contact me on my Facebook page CoachEsser’s Playbook with any questions or comments. You can also go to my website, www.coachesser.com, to see my latest rankings and articles on fantasy sports. My first pre-season rankings will be up on July 1st as I wait for mini-camps and OTAs to come to a close.

Trivia Answer: The 1980s had two Giants receivers hit the 1,000-yard mark as Earnest Gray had 1,139 yards in 1983 and Lionel Manuel had 1,029 in 1988. Amani Toomer was the only Giant to catch passes for more than 1,000 yards during the 1990s when in 1999 he had 1,183 yards receiving.

This article originally appeared at www.BigBlueView.com on Friday June 7th, 2013

Read More

The Art of The Deal

With the final few weeks of the Fantasy Football regular season upon us, most GM’s are scrambling to optimize their rosters for that all important playoff push.  While some are scouring the waiver wire in the hopes that Cecil Shorts is this year’s Victor Cruz, others are doing their homework trying to make the perfect deadline trade.  After realizing that Sidney Rice and Jeremy Maclin aren’t the guys to bring the trophy home, you can fall back on my trade guidelines to help you pluck that perfect piece off of someone else’s roster.

Classic Blunders

1. Don’t put available players on your message boards.  You might as well tell your entire league you hate these guys and are willing to be insulted with horrible trade offers.  It gives the impression that your available players have clearance tags on them.  This turns off some GM’s based on the pure fact that these guys must be tainted, and it attracts the vultures that smell a lop-sided deal.  If you put your third running back up on a message board, I guarantee you will be offered someone’s fourth or fifth receiver.  I know we are all busy, but laziness is never rewarded, nor should it be.

2. Don’t put your needs on a message boards.  Again, you are just asking for your buddies to try and take advantage of you.  I really hated when some sites started utilizing needs and available player categories.  You would inevitably only see the guys who were about to be put on the waiver wire put up.

3. Don’t offer a trade and renege.  This happens quite frequently with lazy GM’s.  They offer a deal without looking at the bye weeks and playoff matchups, and when they receive a “yes” they pull out.  You are straining a relationship that you will need for years to come, and in some cases, a friendship.  Before you put out an offer, either through email, text, or verbally, be prepared to follow through.

4. Don’t send out mass emails with available players and needs.  While this might sound redundant, it is actually very different from the message boards.  People occasionally check the message boards in their league, but emails are seen instantly in most cases.   The message boards might get you two or three bad offers whereas mass emails will have your inbox flooded with bad offers to sift through.

5. Don’t let yourself get trapped by bye weeks and fragile players.  If you are banking on guys riding the eternally questionable tag, be prepared to get burned.  When you draft multiple players with the same bye week and don’t plan ahead, you are practically begging for someone to throw you a terrible trade offer.  This week we have Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Marshawn Lynch and Ahmad Bradshaw all on byes.  If you had two of these guys as your starters you are looking at backup running backs or terrible trade offers to try and win a very important Week 11.  If I am 5-5 right now, I might take a hit to try and get in the tournament. How big of a hit is all in the negotiation.   I can see things like a Lynch for Ridley deal being completed by desperate owners in some leagues.

Do the Work

There is nothing more satisfying than winning a league thanks mostly to your in-season moves.  Sure, some GM’s get lucky drafting a team that goes injury or suspension-free en route to a championship.  But more likely than not, the guys who are constantly vying for the top spot are making key pickups and trades at critical points in the year.  There is no more critical time then the weeks leading up to the playoffs.

Know your strengths and weaknesses.  Are you four-deep at running back but have to rub two sticks together to get a spark from your receivers?  Has your tight end been M.I.A. since Week 2?  Are your Defense and Kicker matchups ideal for the playoffs?

Where are you losing key points week to week?  Are you constantly starting the wrong receiver?  Has your lineup been on autopilot when it needed a hands-on driver?

Know your opponents’ weaknesses and strengths.  Who stockpiled receivers or running backs?  Who has injury issues?  Who has a bye week dilemma?  Who will take Eli Manning off my hands because he or she is still riding high from last season’s Super Bowl win?

Collect information.  Every casual conversation should be an opportunity to gauge your opponent’s feelings about their team.  Sometimes a simple mope up to the board on draft day will let you know a player is available.  I especially love when GMs tell you they love your pick, or they really wanted that guy.  If they wanted him on draft day, he might just be your buyer in Week 11.

Play to your Audience

Every trade is a delicate dance that needs to be approached in a personal way.  Here are some characters that are always fun to deal with.

The Costanza.

CostanzaThis GM is the type of person that thinks all strippers and waitresses are into them.  If you stroke their ego a little you might just be able to get what you want.  Praise them for their draft day foresight and pinpoint in-season pickups.  After some heavy petting they might want to share their wealth with your struggling team.

Mr. Shellshocked.

This GM has been taken advantage of and is very leery of anyone who is interested in their players.  A little honesty will go a long way with this GM.  Tell them who you are after and why.  Always have a second target on their team in mind as they will cling to that first bit of information as the bible truth.  They tend to make fair counteroffers when almost all the cards are on the table.

Mr. Vegas.

This GM is all about the action.  They cannot stand pat for a whole season, let alone week to week.  Always let them know there is a trade in the works.  They might be your pawn in making a deal possible for you.  You may be competing with another team to trade for Jamal Charles who has some favorable playoff matchup.  So you happen to let Mr. Vegas know that your competitor is trying to trade for a running back.  They will instantly try to insert themselves in the trade activities.  You might be able to distract your competitor long enough to pull off your trade.

Puzzle Pieces

The best trades are the ones that make both teams just a little bit better.  Your rosters are like puzzles that needPuzzle pieces each other to finally see the picture.  Sometimes on draft day you might not fit, but with free agent pickups and early season trades you evolve into perfect dance partners.  This is why you should constantly be looking at your opponent’s rosters, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Recommended Trade Targets

QB –  If you don’t have one by now you are most likely out of luck.  The waiver wire might be your lifeline if Carson Palmer or Josh Freeman is still available.

RB – Jamaal Charles, Willis McGahee, Stevan Ridley (for his next few matchups), and Shonn Greene to a lesser extent.

WR – For a position that was as deep as I could remember it being in years, it has thinned out considerably through injury and ineffectiveness. Try and grab Denarius Moore, Marques Colston, Eric Decker, Jordy Nelson and Miles Austin.

TE – Antonio Gates, Jermaine Gresham, and Greg Olsen.  You might be able to get Olsen as a throw in to tip the scales in your favor.

 

Read More
Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Go to Top