A fair fantasy football trade sends a player you can spare to a team that needs that position, in exchange for a player of similar value at a position where you are thin. Both starting lineups get better, and neither manager gives up more value than they get back.
1. Trade from depth, not from your lineup
Start with your bench. A fourth running back who never starts costs your lineup nothing when you trade him, but he can be a starter for a team that is short at running back. Trading a starter to get a starter only moves the hole around.
2. Find the team with the opposite problem
The trade that gets accepted fixes their weakness with your surplus. If you are deep at running back and thin at wide receiver, look for the team that is deep at receiver and thin at running back. Two teams that need the same position rarely have a fair trade between them, and that is usually why an offer goes nowhere.
3. Price two-for-ones correctly
Two good players are not worth the same as one player twice as good. Lineups have limited spots, and the team getting two players has to bench or cut someone. A useful rule: two players worth 4,000 each are worth about one player at 6,800. The team getting the single best player should expect to pay a little more in total value.
4. Use values for your scoring
A trade that is even in one league can be lopsided in another. Superflex roughly doubles what quarterbacks are worth. Full PPR raises pass-catching backs and slot receivers. TE premium raises the best tight ends. Check the trade with your league's actual settings before you send it.
5. Account for injuries without overreacting
A player on injured reserve still has value later in the season, but much less to a team trying to win this week. Contending teams should pay less for injured players, and rebuilding teams can buy them at a discount.
6. Make the offer easy to accept
- Lead with what the trade does for them.
- Keep it to as few players as possible.
- Do not open with a lowball. A fair first offer gets a counteroffer; a bad one ends the conversation.
The trade finder runs this process on two real rosters: it checks every package of up to three players, keeps the trades that are close in value and help both lineups, and grades each one for both teams.