Trade 7 & 8: Desperate Measures

After several weeks of slow developing trade markets, we got back to back blockbusters. Two struggling teams (Oakwood 0-6 and Toronto 2-4) have both mortgaged a premier asset to address a need; Each is taking a gamble, but with their state of affairs each team must have felt an obligation to make something happen before it was too late.

DEPUTY ACQUIRES:

• WR Demaryius Thomas

OAKWOOD ACQUIRES:

• QB Matt Stafford
• WR Rishard Matthews

With Big Ben Roethlisberger out for at least a month, Oakwood's need for a Quarterback was well publicized, and several teams called looking to make a trade with the winless wonder. Ultimately, it was Deputy's annual entry into the QB market that looks bountiful this year: Moving Stafford and keeping Brees, they upgrade from Rishard Matthews to Demaryius Thomas at no added cost to their optimal lineup.

Stafford has gunslinger appeal in the grand tradition of Brett Favre- he will win some, he will lose some. If he can get hot for the next month, he could really be a difference maker for an Oakwood team that is likely out of the playoff race, but with a strong second half could push for the consolation bracket and a top draft pick in 2017. In a perfect world Big Ben is healthy before the deadline, and the team can spin one QB off for another part. And the team steamrolls to seven straight victories and gets into the playoffs. And Washington DC swallows the entire political establishment and the American people are forced to make sweeping changes to the Government.

It is indisputable that Demaryius Thomas has had his stock diminished in a lower octane offense. While his superior playmaking ability remains, the stripped down context has kept him from his lofty expectations, and is unlikely to be elevated substantially by the end of the season. He is still a major upgrade for Deputy: After a slow start, Rishard Matthews had back to back to back useful showings for the VH before being jettisoned. The WR had a short run as a productive slot receiver for Oakwood last year before an injury ended his season; The Drivers will hope he can tap back into that prowess for them this year.

It's a win for Deputy, and has the potential of being a useful move for Oakwood as well. These teams linked up for a similar trade last season, where Oakwood collected some useful parts, and Deputy got a stud WR. In that instance, Edelman immediately went down with an injury and torpedoed the team's playoff chances.

PAWNEE ACQUIRES:

• WR Brandon Marshall

TORONTO ACQUIRES:

• RB Tevin Coleman

Pawnee's top waiver priority allowed them to add Jay Ajayi fresh off his 200 yard, 2 TD breakout. Along with Terrance West and Melvin Gordon, the Pride's RB corps looks very solid; Thus, Tevin Coleman (like Spencer Ware before him) was rendered expendable, as Pawnee looks to be spinning their carousel masterfully. Their fourth best running back situation for a player that immediately becomes their second best target is a coup: Marshall compliments Mike Evans and Doug Baldwin with Anquan Boldin and Brian Quick rotating at the flex. It's not the 2015 Pride WR group, but it is not too shabby.

While Tevin Coleman was Pawnee's 'fourth best' running back in terms of extrapolated production, he might have been their best in terms of sheer talent; currently on the shorter half of an incredibly lucrative timeshare, he's playable from the get-go, with upper echelon handcuff potential. Toronto was hit hard with RB injuries this year, as would-be bellcows Latavius Murray and Rashad Jennings have both missed multiple weeks, leaving a bare cupboard behind them. If Coleman and/or rookie Derrick Henry take starting roles down the stretch LTP could suddenly have a coronation similar to David Johnson's in 2015. (Or two!) The risk is, if neither pans out, the team is far worse off than they were before, missing a player it depended upon; What was a strong WR trio is now AJ Green and the ageless Larry Fitzgerald followed by play gadget Tavon Austin and underwhelming possession receiver Jermaine Kearse.