By Scott Engel, The Game Day

The fantasy football playoffs are getting closer, and so is the trade deadline in many leagues. With a major need to optimize rosters for a playoff push while also dealing with teams on bye weeks, there is an aggressive push to make trades on a daily basis.

A greater percentage of the trade offers I see or receive are fundamentally flawed. Unless you play in a league with other fantasy football analysts, who usually don’t try to lowball anyone else, the issue with the larger part of trade offers is that too many people want a top player but don’t want to give up much of anything in return. It is a simple basic concept that many willingly overlook when sending out fantasy football trades.

Winning Trades

Look, I am all for winning a trade if you can do it. Go for it whenever you can get the better end of a deal or rip someone else off. You are competing to win and, in some cases, betting on fantasy sports, so do whatever you can to come out on top. If it’s not against the rules, then it’s fair. If someone loses a trade, it’s on them to be better informed.

I am not a fan of vetoes. That’s just a move to make sure another team does not improve when you should just worry about your own squad.

But many offers I see or receive don’t even make it to the point where they should even be considered. I will see trade packages put together where one team wants a top player from another but only offers guys that are underperforming or injured. They try to convince the other team why they should accept it. And they are just wasting more time and effort.

You are not going to offer me Gerald Everett and Jerry Jeudy for Jaylen Waddle just because “I need a tight end” and “Jeudy still has a lot of upsides.” Don’t tell me how you are “helping me.” Instead, try to help yourself and both of us, which is how most deals get done.

Also, don’t offer three mediocre players for one top guy. This is not Major League Baseball, where we are accepting a package to unload a guy for a salary dump or a few prospects. Even in dynasty leagues, you better offer significant draft picks or potential future impact players in such a package. Most fantasy football trades where quantity for quality is offered are usually lopsided and not worthy of consideration.

Fundamental Keys

The fundamental key to executing a trade is to think about more than just what YOU want. Many fantasy leaguers start off the process by just thinking about who they want to acquire rather than considering who the right trade partner may be and what their team might need.

If you need a wide receiver, just don’t attempt to go after Waddle or Tyreek Hill. Look at all the rosters in the league first. Rather than just impulsively targeting a certain player to fill your wants, carefully examine the roster grids.

Maybe the teams with Hill or Waddle don’t have needs you can fill. If your team has two very good QBs or is deep at RB, find teams in your league that are deeper at WR. One that has needs at one of those two positions and target specific players on those rosters. You must find the right trade partner before identifying the player you want to acquire.

Next Steps

The next step is where many fantasy football players fail to put together the right offer, behind faulty reasoning that they are filling a need for another team, so the offer is legitimate. Making a solid trade offer also means attempting to at least put a respectable package together. And it should be in terms of similar value or somewhere close to it.

Don’t offer up an injured player and an underperforming guy for a No. 1 starter at another position. You are wasting your time. It’s not going to get consideration in most cases and will not lead to further discussions; it will shut them down.

When targeting a top fantasy football starter, you usually have to give up someone of significance to acquire another significant impact player.

When offering trades, put yourself in the position of the person on the other end of the deal. Ask yourself honestly, would I accept it? If it’s an RB4 and a WR3 for a WR1, and you still say you would accept it, then you are not being truthful.

Starting Trade Talks

Once you can start trade talks based on a legitimate offer, if the opportunity to win a trade arises because the other fantasy player undervalues a guy you really like, then win the trade if possible. Get it done in your favor. But the door to a deal will not open by making offers that only address your needs and wants without being willing to part with anything more than some mediocre bench players. No one is interested in your unwanted players for their best performers.

The next step is simple if you are on the other side of such offers and they don’t stop coming in. Offer your kicker for their top player, and the message will be sent. Those who follow our outline for making solid offers won’t ever have to receive such a message.

For more on fantasy football trades, make sure to check out Belly Up Fantasy. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.