Trade Dispute: Chris Johnson for Hightower and Pierre Thomas

Q: Team A (3-8 and eliminated from playoff contention)is attempting trade Chris Johnson RB Ten to Team B (7-4 and fighting for a playoff spot) for Pierre Thomas RB NO and Tim Hightower RB Ari.  Team B happens to be the league manager and is the only person with a veto vote.  Playoffs start week 14.  (Analysis removed due to length)

A: Your analysis is most welcomed, however, this decision is a no-brainer in our opinion.   Johnson is the top ranked RB based off ESPN scoring while Thomas and Hightower are the 21st and 22nd ranked RBs, respectively.  This does make Thomas and Hightower fantasy starters.  But Johnson is a star, on his way to one of the best fantasy seasons in recent memory.

Any trade involving the top scoring RB, especially at this stage of the season, needs to be examined closely.   Given the lopsided exchange of value, and the respective records of the teams involved, this trade needs to be vetoed in order to preserve the balance of power in your league as you approach the playoffs.    We also recommend that you implement a trade clause for next season preventing teams that are eliminated from the playoffs from trading at all.