The fantasy football trade deadline is about to hit in Yahoo standard leagues. So it’s time for a review course in how to make a trade.

You’re always evaluating your team and your short-term and long-term needs, but now is a critical time to audit your entire league. Who’s fighting for a playoff spot? Who’s crushed by a Week 12 bye or recent injuries? Where are your opponents deep? Where are they shallow?

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There are probably three main reasons anyone makes a trade in fantasy football.

1. Desperation

Nothing intricate here. Find the teams in your league who aren’t in the playoffs at the moment, or the managers who were hit hardest by Week 11 injuries and news. They are your motivated trading partners. Also look at all those Week 12 and Week 14 bye teams (there are eight in total), and figure out which teams in your league will be hurt the most. You can look ahead at matchups and projected scores on the Yahoo platform, and you need that information before you get to the negotiating table.

2. Roster Shape

Remember trading baseball cards as a kid? You had two Derek Jeter cards, so you moved one for a Miguel Cabrera, stuff like that. Fantasy football works the same way. If you’re the receiver-loaded team who needs backfield help, find the manager who’s overloaded in the backfield but pinched at wide receiver. See if you can make that painless trade where both teams deal from strength.

3. A change

Retail therapy is a thing in modern society — sometimes the urge to buy something new on the Internet is overwhelming, looking for a quick emotional bump. Fantasy sports can work the same way. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a new player, a new thing to believe in. Try to figure out if someone in your pool might be itching to shake things up.

When I’m working the trade market this week, I’ll also send out cursory feelers to my best friends in any league, the people I respect, the most reasonable of opponents. Even if you don’t match up initially for a trade, it’s worth it to connect. Enjoy the discourse. And maybe you’ll stumble onto a trade by accident. (The one disclaimer to this rule: be careful if this person is Fred Zinkie. He’s the nicest, most reasonable guy in the world, but he’ll win the trade 95% of the time. Do not mess with him.)

Some of my roster shape themes change at this time of year. Late October or early November is a perfect time to start thinking about backfield insurance; I was shocked to see Emanuel Wilson rostered in so few of Yahoo leagues last week, the clear backup to Josh Jacobs. In the summer and early season, I want you to play for a big inning. In the latter stages of a fantasy season, your roster strategy becomes more narrow.

This is also a time of year where I might carry a look-ahead second defense. Every NFL week brings variance and unexpected results, but we also have a much better idea of what offenses and defenses we can exploit. Steer into that now.

Other tips for effective trade negotiation:

1. Agree on something

Your trade partner isn’t your opponent, he’s your friend. Try to find some common ground as you’re sorting through possibilities. If they tell you someone is untouchable, reflect on that player. Work collaboratively. A positive tone is almost always the best approach.

2. Get them to reveal rankings and player thoughts

Ask them to rank their backfield, or ask them to arrange your WR room. It doesn’t matter if you agree with these ranks, but it shows how they value the players. And if there’s a specific player you desperately want to acquire or trade away, try not to mention that player first. Let the name come up organically.

3. Do your diligence

The better the player you are shopping, the more critical it is that your entire league knows he’s in play. Get the word out, you’re open for business.

4. Take one last look at the fantasy schedule

Are you trading with a team that can hurt you in the next few weeks? Or perhaps you’ll be strengthening a team that could help you if they beat a different opponent. Remember, the enemy of your enemy is your friend.