Fantasy Friday: Trick-Or-Treat Edition

The NFL trading deadline passed Tuesday with hardly any notice, which makes one wonder why there is one in the first place.

The NHL announces trades nearly every day, albeit involving players no one has ever heard of, but that is a league that knows how to trade. The NFL is very dull when it comes to trading.

The beginning of the end of blockbuster NFL trades is quite obvious. The largest swap in NFL history was 12 years ago between the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys -- the infamous Herschel Walker deal involving a total of 18 players and picks.

It's safe to say that the deal more than worked out for the Cowboys, who went on to win three Super Bowls while Walker lasted merely three seasons in Minnesota.

I have found it similarly disheartening that many fantasy owners are as reluctant to trade as their NFL counterparts.

Concerns in fantasy trading generally revolve around one of three things:

If I trade this player now, even if he has disappointed thus far, he will probably put up big numbers for the other team.

If I trade this player to a competitor, it is possible I could be further helping that competitor beat me out of a playoff spot.

What if the player I acquire gets hurt or slumps to the point of being an ineffective fantasy player?

One could agonize about prospective trading to the point of over-analysis. My biggest pet peeve of fantasy trading is going through the offer/counteroffer process only to have nothing result because of indecision. At this point in the season, chances are better to improve a team through a trade than via free agency. The waiver wires are pretty much picked over several times by now.

Go ahead and shake up the team roster if the losses are mounting. Try to make an impact using the old stock market adage of buying low and selling high.

Good decisions in fantasy trading can pave the way to a championship.

***

Halloween is next week, so here is a trick-or-treat edition of this week's fantasy predictions:

Treats
The dentistry business must have invented Halloween. Maybe that's why going to the dentist is so scary. With all the candy in circulation the next week, plenty of cavities will need drillings and fillings before too long. These players will have sweet performances this week:

QB -- Doug Flutie vs. Buffalo
This has been the grudge match we have been looking for since the schedule was released. And that was before the Chargers looked good and the Bills not.
RB -- Edgerrin James at Kansas City
James rushed for a season-high 143 yards despite losing big to New England for the second time in three games. KC has the second-worst run defense in the NFL.
RB -- Tiki Barber/Ron Dayne at Washington
Start either one of the Giants RBs against the weakest run defense in the NFC.
WR -- David Boston at Dallas
Boston has been the most consistent offensive threat for Arizona this season and should have another big day in Big D.
WR -- Curtis Conway vs. Buffalo
Flutie's grudge should be Conway's gain Sunday.
TE -- Anthony Becht at Carolina
Becht has become a red zone scoring threat, and Carolina's pass defense is porous.
PK -- Mike Vanderjagt at Kansas City
KC averages more than two field goals given up per game.
D -- Jacksonville at Baltimore
Jacksonville is 8-2 all time against the Ravens, whose offense is shaky at best.

Tricks
Let's face it. No one ever asks for the trick anymore. But these guys will have a few tricks for the opposition this week:

QB -- Vinny Testaverde at Carolina
Testaverde should rebound from a bad loss to St. Louis with help from the Panthers' defense.
RB -- Priest Holmes vs. Indianapolis
Holmes should again put his sleeper status to bed with a big game against the Colts.
RB -- Richard Huntley vs. New York Jets
Tim Biakabutuka is finally out for the season and Huntley is finally healthy to become the starter against a bad Jets defense.
WR -- Peter Warrick at Detroit
The explosive Warrick, who leads the Bengals with 30 receptions, will have plenty of opportunities against the Lions defense.
WR -- Laveranues Coles at Carolina
Following a modest one-catch game last week against St. Louis, Coles should break out again in Carolina.
TE -- Desmond Clark vs. New England
The Patriots have given up an AFC worst four touchdowns to tight ends.
PK -- Martin Gramatica vs. Minnesota
Gramatica has scored in double-digits each of the last three games against the Vikings.
D -- San Diego vs. Buffalo
The over/under should include how long before Rob Johnson gets knocked out of the game.

Hiding Homeowners
My parents decided one year to not give out Halloween candy. So we had to shut off the lights and stay in the basement until the kids stopped coming to the door looking for candy. These guys might as well stay home this week:

QB -- Elvis Grbac vs. Jacksonville
Grbac is coming off back-to-back multiple interception games and has had poor outings against the Jaguars in the past.
RB -- Eddie George at Pittsburgh
Don't expect George's slow start to improve against a top defense.
RB -- Travis Henry at San Diego
The Chargers should lock up Henry for possible extradition to Buffalo.
WR -- Johnnie Morton vs. Cincinnati
Morton will be hard-pressed to post big numbers without Germane Crowell or Herman Moore on the other side.
WR -- Rod Gardner vs. New York Giants
Remember last season when Kansas City rookie Sylvester Morris had three touchdowns in one game early in the season and disappeared the rest of the year? That could very well be Rod Gardner after last week's big game.
TE -- Ken Dilger at Kansas City
The Chiefs' defense is not great, but they have not allowed a tight end to score all year.
PK -- Joe Nedney at Pittsburgh
Captain Hook may not have many chances against Pittsburgh, which has allowed a league-low two field goals.
D -- Indianapolis at Kansas City
The Colts have yet to prove any improvement on defense this season, and Peyton Manning has been keeping them on the field much too long.