Sunday, September 3, 2017

2017 Season Preview: Trade Winds

We're in the slow period of time between the draft and the first week of the season. In the past this was a time for some big trades, but in recent years it has been a quieter time, as the later draft avoids injuries, and managers have done a better job drafting to avoid pressing need. Once injuries, ineffectiveness, breakouts, breakdowns, and byes come into play, we should see the hot stove fire up, and trades cooking.

Still, until we get some real numbers on the board, prognostication is our only source of speculation. So we'll take a look at some of the players teams might be willing to move, and some of the spots where the depth chart might be in need of an upgrade.

Hill Valley McFlys
The defending champions have lackluster ratings across the board, but are chock full of upside plays and breakout candidates, with a deep bench of useful assets that just need a little patience and care.
NEEDS: The team needs a willing trade partner! With so many guys coming back from injury, early returns will showcase value.
EXCESS ASSETS: Once the RBs and WRs produce, the team will likely have some guys to move- or the tough choice of dropping a name brand bust early on.

Phoenix Uprising
The Uprising have eight RBs on the roster, but none of them is a clear cut every week starter at this point, as they'll have to ride the carousel once again.
NEEDS: The team's flex is underwhelming as they wait to see if Mike Williams can get healthy, or Josh Gordon can get reinstated.
EXCESS ASSETS: Of all those RBs, Bilal Powell is the one guy with obvious upfront value. The team could move him and roll the dice each week.

Manitoba Moosecrew
The Moosecrew will entrust Derek Carr with an offensive fully stocked with weapons, including the vaunted ACϟDC connection.
NEEDS: The team did not invest heavily in proven defensive players, with low grades at LB and S. Those positions tend to be well stocked though, and free agency may give them free solutions.
EXCESS ASSETS: There's plenty of flex options, as Chris Hogan and Kevin White are viable WRs and Julius Thomas and OJ Howard should be credible TD threats.

Pawnee Pride
The Pride gambled on Ezekiel Elliot early in the second round- how much he plays (and when he misses) will determine a lot about their season. They're okay at RB regardless of what the projections say.
NEEDS: This has the makings of another scary offense, though only Jordy Nelson is a proven red zone threat.
EXCESS ASSETS: Aside from Zeke, the team has plenty of nice flex options, and will also likely try to put Stafford or Brees on a fickle QB market at some point mid-season.

Deputy Van Halens
With a strong triumvirate of running backs in Gordon, Hyde, and Coleman the team looks good at RB; There's some covert depth at WR as well, making this one team that should be pretty set at the skill positions on day one.
NEEDS: Except TE, where Jack Doyle is not much of a difference maker, offering an adequate floor and a low ceiling.
EXCESS ASSETS: If Alfred Morris takes advantage of early season opportunities, Hyde or Coleman could find themselves the centerpiece of a blockbuster that nets an elite TE. 
Binghamton Snipers
The league's newest team received a poor draft grade but actually should stack up pretty well across the board. The defense is unproven but full of upside, and Rodgers' teams are rarely bad.
NEEDS: WR. After Green there are three question marks and no depth. It's hard to see them improving substantially without a trade. 
EXCESS ASSETS: With three RBs that could start any week, plus Kirk Cousins riding pine, the team should be able to extract a WR once a QB or RB goes down elsewhere.
HCM City Lead Farmers
The Lead Farmers took Le'Veon Bell first overall, and he reported to camp and should be fully healthy and available coming into week one. He leads a stacked offense with no discernible weaknesses. 
NEEDS: The RB depth is not good. Carrying James Conner as a handcuff isn't a bad plan, but there is no bye week or Lamar Miller insurance currently on the squad.
EXCESS ASSETS: Jason Witten and Antonio Gates are oldies but goodies, dependable name brands that with a couple good weeks early could be in demand on the trade market.
Philadelphia Rum Ham
Moving to South Philly, the team took Matt Ryan with them, although at a much higher cost. David Johnson is a cheat code.
NEEDS: After Johnson there's no clear 2nd RB. Danny Woodhead has been hurt, and Chris Ivory's role is muddled. They'll be looking for an early season breakout to claim as their own.
EXCESS ASSETS: If Crowder, Thielen, Lee and Stills all get off to good starts, they may be able to swing one around for a RB2 to a WR needy team.

Mar-A-Lago Grabbers
The Grabbers have a really dynamite set of WRs, but will be looking to carousel at RB; if CJ Anderson or Paul Perkins can reach bellcow status this will be a complete team and a scary opponent.
NEEDS: The team could really use a sudden Antonio Gates retirement to maximize Hunter Henry's opportunities?
EXCESS ASSETS: Once Andrew Luck comes back, he will be a coveted asset- or the team can hand him the reins and move Cam Newton. Moving one of them could be a championship maker.

Savannah Petes
The team rode ill gotten draft plans to their best grade ever, and despite low marks at QB, Eli Manning carries obvious and considerable upside. They're counting on a pair of rookie RBs.
NEEDS: The TE position is in flux; Eric Ebron still has a ton of potential, but limited practice time hurts his chances of reaching it anytime soon. 
EXCESS ASSETS: With a glut of upside at skill positions, some early season breakouts could fatten the wallet considerably.

South Park Cows
The Cows had a clunker of a season following two top showings. This year's team should not be overlooked.
NEEDS: WR. Cole Beasley and Ted Ginn are both acceptable flex plays, but neither is an ideal WR3. 
EXCESS ASSETS: The team is flush with sneaky good RB depth, with five guys that could slot into the starting lineup without showing any achilles. Moving one for a WR could be priority in the early going, though South Park tends to beat their own drum.

Toronto LTP
A nice draft grade last year didn't keep LTP out of the standings cellar. The team already has a lot of injuries, plus Willie Snead's suspension hurting their depth.
NEEDS: They need bounceback years from Hopkins, Benjamin, and Eifert, or else they're gonna need a whole new set of downfield weapons.
EXCESS ASSETS: If everyone produces early, Snead's return may make a quality WR expendable. 

New York's Finest
NYF grade well at WR, but below average at all other offensive position. The team has ten players on bye week 8, consolidating its losses to one week but stronger for it the other three months of play.
NEEDS: There's no RB safety net during Doug Martin's three week suspension; If Gurley or All Day go down, they'll be jammed up.
EXCESS ASSETS: Landon Collins is could be moved for a top offensive weapon if needed, and replaced on the cheap.
Oakwood Drivers
The Drivers had a solid draft receiving high marks at six of nine positions; However, they're weak at the skill positions and their bench has minimal obvious upsides.
NEEDS: WR. Jarvis Landry, Emmanuel Sanders, and Randall Cobb all lack the size to be counted on as red zone targets, so they'll need to  rely upon volume. 
EXCESS ASSETS: If one of the team's three Patriot RBs can claim the lion's share early the team will be able to use their bench on some lotto tickets, or move perhaps move dependable veteran Matt Forte.

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