One of the most fun aspects of playing draft style fantasy football is making trades. It’s not like the salary cap version where you just make them, in draft you’re haggling with league mates and trying to get the best deal and sell high, buy low – all while balancing your team for a tilt at a premiership.
If you’re new to the Draft Doctors podcast, the ‘A Dozen Deals’ article has been a staple for 2 years, where each week I write about various transactions you could make; be it a BUY, SELL, HOLD, ADD or DROP. Buy, sell and hold all relate to players who are most likely owned, and add/drop to players who may or may not be, more fringe type players. I base these suggestions on a 10 team-22 player roster, so depending on your league size and format, there may be some variation in value (which I will generally specify). The whole point of the article was to give opinions on making moves in your draft league. Did all the moves work out? Not quite. However, through the season there was a very high success rate and by and large they worked out.
We’re at the point in the season where you’ll have a decent idea where you stand. Contending, middling or out of it. Hopefully you’re not out of it, but it’s a reality. And so today’s deals have to have some context – if you’re two games clear on top of your ladder, you’re not picking up streamers for this week, you’re thinking about what your team will look like when finals start. You can start doing two for ones, trading away some depth for better starters. Conversely, if you’re in need of wins to sneak into the finals, what your lineup looks like then isn’t of the utmost importance. It’s getting the W this week and next. We know anything can (and usually does) happen in fantasy finals. Getting there is the most important thing. So I’ve separated a few deals at the end for those of you looking ahead. Let’s get into it!
BUY – HAWKS – Really can’t stress how good their run of matchups over the next two months are. Whatever area of your team needs a hand, there’s plenty to buy from and you can probably get players at a good low cost.
ADD – DAWSON SIMPSON ( R ) – If you need a ruck, Lobb’s out for at least a month, so we would assume Simpson gets a call up unless GWS try Flynn. Aside from WCE, Simpson would run into a reasonable run of matchups in that 4 week timeframe.
ADD – MATT KENNEDY (M) – It’s been a rough year for Kennedy with constant injuries nagging him. He had 29 disposals in the VFL last week and is sure to be in line for a recall.
BUY – CHARLIE CURNOW (F) – Has been putting up okay numbers, no tons since round one but given the way Carlton are struggling, he’s been great. Why buy then? Well, he should be pretty cheap in terms of trade and after round 15 Carlton don’t play a team currently in the eight.
DROP – DANIEL WELLS (M/F) – Likely out for the season, there’s no reason for him to be on your roster.
SELL – ZACH MERRETT (M) – Obviously you’ll want to get a big name back, but with Essendon’s next 6 weeks featuring a whole lotta teams who tag (Sydney, GC, North) and sometimes tag (Freo, WCE), Merrett may well underperform with attention.
SELL – GOOD PERSONALITY TOM LYNCH (F) – On bye, bit of a worry his side strain is still niggling him and Adelaide have a horror run of matchups. Don’t want any of their forwards to be honest, but Lynch may be the most sellable.
KEEPER BUY – SAM POWELL-PEPPER (M) – So I don’t talk about keeper stuff too often, but in a keeper I’d be looking to buy SPP. Not sure what the cost will be but I imagine it’s about to shoot up. Looking for a third year breakout next season, but the big kicker is Ollie Wines. If Wines leaves, good times for SPP. Obviously don’t trade the world since there’s a lot of variables here, but a sneaky buy could be handy!
ADD – CHRIS MASTEN (M) – Widely available, on a heck of a lot of waiver wires and at least fills out your M7 spot.
Okay, let’s look ahead. With matchups against Brisbane, the Dogs and the Saints, I’d be interested in picking up some North players.
Jed Goaterson is 70% owned. Billy Hartung is free. Waite, Brown are cheap to get. Higgins is the top guy to get, and he isn’t averaging huge across the season so is gettable
If your finals series goes through rounds 22 and 23, Adelaide are playing North and Carlton. These 2 teams run tags so I’d be wary if I was a Rory Sloane owner, or of trying to trade in Sloane. Not only has he missed a heap of footy, we’ve also seen him be greatly affected by taggers.
Richmond have good matchups in rounds 21-23 so they’re worth considering, although they are quite unfriendly for fantasy! Also on bye, so it could be a good time to buy.
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Good luck in your deals and matchups!
Is now a good time to try and flip Jayden Short? His bump in scores correlate directly with bacher being out of the side and with him due to be back not long after the buy I’m worried it will negatively impact short’s hot scoring form. Or do you think this role and scoring is here to stay?
Depends what your expecations are, really. I wouldn’t expect 90+ every week, but conversely I’m not sure you can sell him at that sort of price. Happy to flip, the concern is warranted, but I’d also be happy to keep for a mid-70s average. Again, really depends on what you can get.
Who do you rather in your backline? Stephen Hill or Nathan Wilson?
Hill but it’s not a strong lean.
I’m one game clear and 80+ points for, ahead of my nearest rival on top of my league. This is uncharted waters for me. The suggestion of setting up for the finals intrigues me. Which of these defenders would trade out for a Luke Ryan or Blakely. Lloyd, Jonas, DBJ, Suckling, Savage, Seedsman or Hardwick. I’m thinking a 2 for 1 trade. One of the defenders above plus a forward for one of the 2 Freo backs.
Nice work on your top of the ladder status! I’d be looking at moving DBJ or Seed, those two should have pretty good currency. Not sure I’d do it for Ryan personally, but good luck – you’re obviously making some great moves!
Hey Fizz
What are your thoughts on Dusty? Is he a good player to target to trade in?
Thanks
Dave
Yeah, he’s an interesting one. Obviously depends what you’d have to give up but it worth asking the question. Nice high game time on the weekend, got some tackles which have been missing. 4 frees against kept his score a bit lower. Might not recapture his Brownlow form if he’s got a niggle but there’s every chance he improves, good target, sure.
Looking at a trade for Gary Jnr. Gary is a bit of an injury risk is my thinking.
That’s the worry. Back to back interstate games in July also, may get a rest. 4 out of last 6 in Geelong though, pretty tempting!
How would you rank these junk pile agents
Myers
M Kennedy
Jong
Crozier
Graham
Poorly. I’m happy to take a chance on Jong, has to get a run in the mids with all the Dogs outs.
So Jong
Kennedy
Graham
Crozier
Myers
Lotta variables there. Kennedy above Graham just for potential. Crozier would be better with Suckling out.
Lads, got Vlaustin, Shepard, S Hill, Carlisle, Grundy on the wire. Been holding Newman from the start of the year and also got short. Do I flick either of these two off for a wire pick or two and if so who…or leave it be and run the gauntlet that Newman will actually get games and perform.?
Dropped Newman myself weeks ago. They’re stacked across HB now, even when he played it was in a role not suited to him and was poor. Don’t see any reason to hang on.
Who would you pick out of those on the wire?
Hill. Not sure about Vlastuin, role can change at the drop of a hat. He always intrigues though.