So we’re just past the midpoint of the fantasy season in many leagues, and your team sucks / doesn’t suck / is better than average / is the big bad boy nobody on the block wants to face. In all of these situations, you likely drafted a squad with players that are overachieving (based upon where you picked them) and definitely a few that are underachieving. That’s typical.

So how do you improve your squad for the weeks that remain? And specifically, how do you make trades that make sense?

While there are no hard-and-fast rules about trading players that aren’t already obvious, there are some situations you should look for when making a trade offer:

1. Does the owner have too many or too few?
This should be obvious, but every year I get trade offers where the other guy wasn’t thinking about how my squad would look after the trade.
Does your fellow owner have 4 running backs and nary a consistent quality WR? Or perhaps a pair of quality TEs but no solid third option at RB? These are situations made for the exploiting, my friend. If you can find that match, you’ve got a lot less convincing to do with the other owner.

2. Is the owner nervous?
Find an owner on a two-game losing streak and you might have found someone willing to make a deal. Did he lose his RB recently? Put a pretty enough spin on your guy and you might find yourself getting a nice prize for cheaper than normal.

3. Future matchups
Do you pay attention to schedules? You probably haven’t yet realized that Kansas City has an easier back half to their season than say…the Lions (sheesh) or the Jets. Maybe it’s worth paying a little more now for a KC player who’s going to be heading up against some cake matchups in later weeks.

4. Trade `em while they’re hot
The whole art of trading in the first place is getting guys as they’re about to go off for big points in the next week. While we all love the guy who just scored 3 TDs against a bad D the week before, it’s important to keep in mind that you don’t get past points when counting your future score. If you have a player that gets you a 25-point game, always at least entertain the idea of moving him while he’s hot.

5. Don’t be afraid of the Big Deal
If you’re having a hard time making a trade at all with anyone, don’t be afraid of offering up a Big Trade to try and stir the emotions of the other side. The Big Trade normally involves at least 2-3 high quality players (every week starters) on both sides. So how do you work this to your advantage? It’s difficult, but try to find a 2nd or 3rd tier player who might tip the scales in your favor, and insist that he’s thrown into the deal. The idea of landing a Peyton Manning or a LaDainian Tomlinson may be enough to get the other owner to throw you that extra bone you need for later.

6. Know your other owners
You got a Cowboys fan out there? If you’re fed up with Terrell Owens, you might yet find an owner willing to pay a little too much for him. Or you might find a Packers fan that still has a Brett Favre crush. It’s not that you’ll get a ton more for your player, but I wouldn’t try trading Willie Parker to your buddy from Cleveland and expect to get your best possible value either.

BIO:
Rob Eaman is a freelance writer for MaximumFantasySports.com and an active fantasy sports participant. He played soccer professionally and has been participating in football and baseball fantasy leagues for the past 12 years. Rob writes solely for Maximum Fantasy Sports because he believes that it is the best real-time fantasy football league website. It includes all of the best features that he has used over the years, plus some that have never been attempted at any other website. Join Maximum Fantasy Sports today by visiting www.maximumfantasysports.com and registering as an MFS member. Membership is free!