In part 2 of the two-week trade series, we are ready to look to the Trade Valuation Book to tell us:
- Misfires: Two trade blasts ended up wrong
- Flashback: Four trades should have been put on blast
- Trade Nuggets: Bonus factoids
(Navigate freely through the Trade Valuation Book below to see how your other trades fared)
Misfire #1: Ronald Wayne
When this trade was made, Caleb called Jesse’s squad an “absolute dumpster fire of a team” and compared him to this guy:
By end of season though, this trade tilted in Jesse’s favor.
What did Jesse see in James Robinson? At the time of the trade (week 1), J-Rob had only put up 10 PPR points…
- J-Rob (20 ppg) nearly matched Tyreek’s WR1 production (25 ppg) by finishing as RB3 overall between weeks 2–13.
- DJ Moore (14 ppg) finished above Higgins and Diontae. In a 14 team league, that production factored even more valuably, vindicating Jesse — who swore he knew it all along.
Misfire #2: Theo & Melvin
When this trade dropped, it got Benny channeling Pinkman:
However, by end of season, here are how the RB’s ranked by weekly average:
- Melvin Gordon (14.1 ppg)
- Lamar Miller (14.6 ppg)
- Marshawn Lynch (17.3 ppg)
Melvin never quite showed his RB1 form befitting of his 1st round ADP, only scoring >20 points one week. Meanwhile, Lamar scored more points, and Marshawn flashed RB1 numbers, averaging 73 yards rushing, 1 rushing TD (and 2 receptions, 20 receiving yards).
Flashback #1: Diggs Over Thielen Whiplash
Benny appears again in this column. Danny really ran away with this one. Based off net +/-, this was the 2nd most lopsided trade in league history. Benny actually drafted Diggs at a bargain price of $17 but quickly sent him packing on the one year Diggs bloomed into top-5 WR overall and set:
âś… Career highs receptions
âś… Career high targets
âś… Career high receiving yards
Meanwhile, Benny bet big on Danny Dimes connection with Slayton. But Slayton finished as WR45, while Lazard (WR83) and Cohen (RB97) were ravaged by injuries.
In 2020, Benny finished with a 6–7 record. Had Benny not made both J-Rob/DJM + Diggs trades, he would have finished 9–4 and qualified for the playoffs.
Flashback #2: Kong BOGO RB1
Going to keep this one short because the numbers above explain themselves. Kong not only got the highest scoring player across all positions in Jonathan Taylor (28.4 ppg), but he also received a surprisingly solid RB1/2 season out of Gibson (15 ppg).
Meanwhile, Kamara missed weeks 10–13. Even upon return in the playoffs, he averaged only 12.5 ppg. Thankfully, our resident blaster was on sabbatical and unavailable to blast this one.
Flashback #3: Danny’s Championship Trade
Some in the league like to dig at Ramon for the Lacy trade, but no one has dug at Ramon for this trade with Danny, largely because it takes awhile to realize the disparity.
In 2016, Danny was among the tier of contenders, but with Ramon’s season looking bust, Danny successfully pushed for the trophy by acquiring a key WR1 in Baldwin (scored 36.1 points in the championship game).
The move cost him the following year’s 2nd round and 3rd round picks. Those picks are usually very valuable, but in Ramon’s hands, those picks busted, especially his 2nd rounder:
- 2017 2nd round pick: Ty Montgomery (averaged 11 ppg in 8 games)
- 2017 3rd round pick: Alshon Jeffery (averaged 13 ppg in 12 games)
Meanwhile, Danny used Ramon’s 4th round pick on RB1 Kareem Hunt (17 ppg), who showed more value than Ramon’s 2nd + 3rd round picks combined.
Flashback #4: J-Rob Pilfer
Benny got a positive mention here! This went largely uncovered since the Ronald Wayne trade got all the buzz. Benny dangled a handcuff that I wanted (Mattison) + waiver wire fodder, and got back an RB1. The season had not even started yet, and Benny made a savvy move for upside.
Meanwhile, Dalvin Cook eventually got injured, and Mattison averaged only 9.16 points. So much for the league’s most valuable “handcuff”.
Trade Nuggets
- Caleb and Alex pulled off the league’s only back-to-back trade, involving largely same players (Conner, Elliott) who were swapped back to their original manager within 2 weeks:
- Ramon wanted to know how many trades he has won (3), and the last time he won (2018) — that trade win occurred against Alex: sending away Javorius Allen for Matt Breida. Javorius Allen’s injury is the only reason Ramon won this trade.
