Fantasy owners are scrambling all over the fantasy world as they try and squeeze in the deadline deal that will ensure that their playoff/championship chances are secure. Here are a few big names you shouldn’t be afraid to include in that blockbuster deal to get the guy who is going to put your team over the edge:
Wheeling And Dealing At The Trade Deadline
Joe Flacco, QB BAL - If you have Flacco on your roster, chances are he has carried your team on more than a couple occasions. Without going so far as to whisper the phrase “sophomore slump”, I will say that defensive coordinators are getting better at containing Joe’s cannon arm. That plus the fact that still has to face Pittsburgh twice between Week 12 and Week 16 (playoff season in most leagues) makes him someone worth dangling him in a deal to get a quarterback on a higher tier.
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD - You’d have to have been living under a rock to not know LT has been largely ineffective this season. But his name still carries a little weight. He is still suiting up every week and if you put him in a two-for-one or three-for-one deal, you might be able to use the “LT” name to seal it.
Steve Smith, WR CAR - Another guy with a lot of name and not much game this season, Smith was probably your top wide receiver choice in the draft. It is a hard pill to swallow to consider him the eye-candy in a deal to land a true fantasy stud. But if you’re serious about making a deal, you have to consider including a player like this. With the Carolina offense struggling, Smith is having a down year. His upside on any given week though should be enough to convince your prospective trading partner you mean business.
Jason Witten, TE DAL - Witten has been as good as a top wide receiver in most leagues over the last couple seasons, but this year, the yards and touchdowns have eluded him. His use as more of a short yardage outlet for Tony Romo has driven his fantasy owners crazy. Again, his name holds a lot of fantasy water, so if you can stomach going with the best tight end you can find on the waiver wire, maybe his inclusion in a deadline deal will be the deciding factor.
The name of the game at this point of the fantasy year is turning your depth into one or two horses you can ride to the big payday. A mediocre roster might be enough to get you to the playoffs, but without the real studs at the front of your team, you won’t be able to contend in the playoffs. So if you find a fellow owner possibly looking to deal a guy who can be a difference maker, don’t beat around that bush. Get aggressive and make sure your offer has some star-power.
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