Through 10 Weeks of the Fantasy Season, the Trade Deadline approaches and the smart Dynasty squads have realized their potential as either a contender or a rebuilder.  While accepting a losing season sucks, the beatuy of playing Dynasty Fantasy Football is such that an intense roster rebuild is exciting and a necessary component of long term success.  Time to get aggressive.

The Rebuilding Team has hopefully realized their 2010 existence many weeks ago, and has therefore gotten a head start on the other teams in the league who are now scrambling to make moves prior to the upcoming trade deadline.  Rebuilders primary focus must be acquiring youthful emerging talent and an abundance of early Dynasty Rookie Draft Picks (Rounds 1-2).  Making numerous trades that involve Rookie Draft picks will allow you work toward accumulating numerous early draft picks and subsequently immediate starters in the coming season.  The Dynasty owner desperately looking to slide into a playoff spot is particularly vulnerable to overpaying in a trade that involves a high draft pick.  The Rebuilder must determine who their core group of players are and become comfortable with moving everyone else.  Aging players with high current value are particularly intruiging sell candidates.  A contending team views this type of player as a chance to put their team over the edge,  while the rebuilder must see the same player as a long term limiting liability. 

Beast Rules:
1) It is possible to rebuild your roster into a playoff contender in a single season/offseason through trades and a solid Rookie draft. 
2) Determine who your core group of players are.  Make everyone else on your roster available, particularly those aging players currently producing at a high level and will give you a nice return in trade.
3) Use your existing roster depth to your advantage.  Move players of which you have a strong group of players.  Look to trade players with the shortest longevity or significant value to another team in your league.
4) Early round Dynasty Rookie Draft Picks (Rounds 1-2) are hugely valuable and should be a primary focus in trade negotiations.  Accumulate as many early round Dynasty Rookie Draft picks as possible.  Do this through multiple trades and targeting the weak and desperate owners in your league.
5) It is never too early to start paying close attention to NCAA talent to evaluate the upcoming rookie class.  You want to make sure to spend those accumulated early Dynasty Rookie Draft Picks properly.

On the other side of the deal, we have the Contenders. The Contender is arguably in a tougher position than the rebuilding teams as the trade deadline approaches. The important thing is to look at your team objectively to determine if you really have a shot. Sometimes, if you are on the outside looking in with only a slim chance of making the dance, you might want to make the call and fill that missing roster slot that will make you a championship squad the following season. It is a tough call, that many make too late in the season because they want to believe, but the earlier you realize what you are, the better. If you are a contender, you have a legit shot to make the playoffs, meaning you have a chance to win it all. That is what we play for and you need to seize the opportunity because in a Dynasty league it is difficult to sustain success. What you need to do at the deadline is sure up the weak links in your starting lineup. Identify a position or player that needs to be upgraded and then start talking to rebuilders. Keep in mind that the decisions a contender makes will affect future seasons if they decide to sell the farm for a shot at a title.

Beast Rules:
1) Give up unproven talent for established Beasts, but don't mortgage your entire future. Try to acquire Beasts that still have a few seasons of elite production left in them, which makes the trade more justifiable if you don't end up winning it all this season.
2) Look to make moves on older Beasts without much Dynasty value, but do so by paying appropriately. These types of players can typically be had on the cheap from rebuilding teams because they don't have a place in their future plans.
3) Draft picks are valuable and you should put a large pricetag on them in trades. They can help you reel in a large Beast difference maker.
4) Sure up your bench. The last thing you want to do is lose a shot at the title because you didn't have a solid TE replacement on your bench.
5) Walk away from the deal if the price is too high. Rebuilders know that you are looking to improve your team and will definitely try to take advantage. If you walk away, you risk another Contender swooping in, but sometimes that is better than overpaying for a quick fix. Often times, the rebuilder will not find another match and come back to you with lowered expectations.

For more Trade Deadline analysis, check out our Dynasty Buy / Sell article.