Fair value. Better lineup?

Market values provide a reference for comparing players across positions and for spotting an offer that asks one side to give up too much. They are useful when you already have a deal in mind and want a fairness check.

A value alone cannot tell you whether the incoming player starts for your team, who replaces the outgoing player, or whether the other manager has a reason to accept. Your league scoring and format also matter. A redraft value is not a substitute for a dynasty or future keeper valuation.

Compare the best legal starting lineup before and after the offer for each manager. A new player helps only to the extent that they improve an available lineup spot or solve a future availability problem. An outgoing player creates a cost when their replacement is worse.

Flex and superflex eligibility can change which replacement matters. Bye weeks and injuries can change it again. A player who sits this week may be needed later, so one snapshot of the current starting lineup is not enough.

Imagine two managers exchanging a receiver and a running back with similar market values. One manager is deep at receiver and weak at running back. The other has the opposite problem. Each arrival can replace a weaker starter, so both teams may improve without creating market value out of thin air.

Now give both managers strong players at the position they are receiving. The same swap might only rearrange their benches. Or one team might lose a starter and lack a replacement. The market comparison has not changed, but the usefulness of the deal has. This is a hypothetical roster example, not a forecast.

Fantrade searches possible offers in your Sleeper league rather than requiring you to name a pair of players first. It evaluates changes to both lineups across the remaining schedule, considers forced drops, and screens offers using FantasyCalc market values with a package adjustment.

The displayed trade value gap is what you get minus what you give. It is not a lineup improvement score. The lineup explanation tells you where a trade helps or hurts; the value gap tells you how balanced the exchange is on the values used. Read both before sending.

A manager may disagree with a projection, value a player more highly, prefer depth, or simply want to keep their roster. An acceptance estimate cannot know every preference. Use a clear explanation of what changes for their team and let them make the decision.

A closest call is also different from a recommended trade: it failed a check and says why. Do not interpret similar market values or an appealing headline as proof that both lineups improve. If the offer only works under an optimistic assumption, compare it with keeping your current team.