Trade Dispute: Manning/Moss for Manning/Holt

Q:  I sure hope you can help.  I am in an 8 team league so all managers were able to draft pretty good teams.  The commissioner’s roster has Tomlinson, Holt, Harrison, Randy Moss, Thomas Jones, Eli Manning and Baltimore Defense along with some decent depth.  A trade was brewing that involved Holt and Eli Manning for Santana Moss and Peyton Manning.  The other roster had Maroney, Barber, Gates, Marshawn Lynch, Ronnie Brown , Berrian and Vincent Jackson to go with his “trade” guys.  Trades are reviewed by the commissioner, but I did send out two emails to the league and three other mangers didn’t think it was fair.  I understand that a rough start by your studs is hard to get through, but it seems that this trade just gives too much power to one team.  We are all friends and are competitive, but some bad blood is starting to boil and you could really be the salve we need to bring harmony back to the league.

Thanks for listening.  I hope you can help.

A:  JimmyMeBoy!  Happy to help.  This is a tough one, but follow me through this logic.  First, when evaluating a trade, you can’t consider who else the teams involved in the trade have on their roster.  You have to look at the trade by itself.

Second, you have to realize that there is a difference between an unfair trade (that should be vetoed) and an uneven trade (that favors one team but should still be allowed).  Uneven trades still stink, and can affect the balance of your league, but that’s why you hopefully limit the number of idiots in your league.

That said, my first thought was no way - this trade is ridiculous.  The one team is clearly upgrading at QB from Eli to Peyton, a difference that is much more signficant than the difference between Holt and Moss.  But you have to look at the stats.  With a standard scoring system (QBs: 4pts per TD, -2 per INT, 1 pt per 50yds passing; WR: 6pts per TD, 1 pt per 20yds receiving) how does the trade matchup through three weeks in 07′?

Peyton: 879yds, 5TDs & 1INT (36pts)
Moss: 199yds, 0TDs (10pts)

Eli:  755yds, 6TDs & 1INT (31pts)
Holt: 210yds, 2TDs (23pts)

Do the math and the Eli/Holt side of the trade has actually produced more points 54-46.  Fine, but its too early in the season, what about last year?

Peyton:  4397yds, 31TDs, 9INTs (194pts)
Moss: 790yds; 6TDs (76pts)

Eli:  3244yds, 24TDs, 18INTs (125pts)
Holt: 1188yds, 10TDs (120pts)

In 2006, the Peyton/Moss pair came out on top 270-245, enough to consider the trade uneven, but not unfair or worthy of a veto.  Listen, I hate the trade too because Peyton is such a better QB than his little bro, but moreso on the field as opposed to in the boxscore.  The Giants will be playing from behind and passing often (while the Colts won’t) and while Jason Campbell could have the potential to help his receiver’s stats, Moss is streaky and Holt is one of the most consistent fantasy producers in the game.

Sorry, the trade should stand.