Trading well is key to building that high upside, title winning squad but anyone who has played in a draft league will know exactly how difficult it can be to get a deal over the line!
The art to trading is knowing who to target and when to strike as well as which players to use in the trades. This weekly segments looks into the strategy of selling high on those overachievers and buying low on those studs that haven’t performed as expected…
Buy Low
James Maddison – Leicester City – Midfielder
It doesn’t get much worse for James Maddison in terms of his fantasy numbers. Unfortunately, they translate to his actual form on the pitch and with the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Patson Daka and Ademola Lookman knocking on the door searching for minutes, Maddison could easily find himself on the bench before long.
Leicester manager is a big fan of Maddison’s so you’d think there will be patience shown to his number 10 but things must change for The Foxes playmaker. Right now, you will have to give very little to get a once elite Fantrax asset, a player that went at the start of the second round in most leagues this summer. Most owners will probably feel they have to hold for now but there’s every chance the Maddison owner in your league is at the end of their tether already. Any serviceable, starting midfielder packaged with a half decent forward could be enough to sign him up.
Raheem Sterling – Manchester City – Forward
Pep roulette causes endless frustration for fantasy managers every season who have to watch on as their star picks are rewarded for good form with time spent on the bench. The caveat for that is normally that the games those stars play in are ones that bring plenty of points. Unless, that is, you roster Raheem Sterling this season…
Having started the opening game loss against Tottenham, the England star hasn’t started since, even in the Champions League in midweek. Bear in mind, this is even before Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden have been fit to start. Many thought rotation would occur between Sterling and star signing Jack Grealish but the latter appears to be one of Pep’s favourites so far.
Why trade him in then? Because SURELY he is too good to keep warming the bench! He will get his run and he will score goals. Simple. If you can time it well then you’re getting an elite player for a very affordable price. You probably need to get him in before this weekend as a start at home against Southampton will surely see his price rocketing once more!
Sell High
Abdoulaye Doucoure – Everton – Midfielder
I’d feature Demarai Gray here but I did that last week. Instead, I’ll go for his team mate Abdoulaye Doucoure who has also exceeded expectations at the start of this season.
The Frenchman was tipped very early on this season as a surprise star on FF92. If you took that on board, you’re welcome! His more advanced role has already led to a goal and three assists and he was very unfortunate not to add to the first column during that blockbuster Everton second half against Burnley.
Can he keep it up? Maybe, but probably not. His ghost points aren’t brilliant so you’re fairly reliant on the attacking returns continuing if you’re planning to play him week in, week out. The smart play is to sell now if you can get a good deal but if you can hold out until the international break, fixtures against defensively suspect duo Aston Villa and Norwich may see his price rise just a little bit more, giving you plenty to play with during that long, Premier League-less fortnight.
PS. Sell Demarai Gray.
Connor Gallagher – Crystal Palace – Midfielder
Plenty of candidates for our sell high column, including the likes of Mason Greenwood and the recently nicknamed (by myself) Burnley De Bruyne, Dwight McNeil.
Instead, I’ve gone for a man in form Connor Gallagher who has found a new lease of life at Crystal Palace. The young midfielder has gone from a player to leave on the waiver wire while at West Brom to a creative talent to savour at Palace!
Unlike the aforementioned Doucoure, I can imagine Gallagher maintaining his form and his ghost points are excellent. Having said that, he’s not a player you can start every single week (for example, I’d sit him away at Liverpool this weekend) so why not trade him in for someone that you can? I’d be looking to use him as part of a 2:1 deal to acquire someone like Mason Mount or Phil Foden if you can!
Fantasy Football 92 