So I blew my fantasy draft. It started off well enough, but the deeper it went, the more I got stuck in the mud, wheels spinning until the engine blew. Driving home that fateful night from the posh setting of BW3s in Massillon, I pondered my next move. In week one I held pat, hoping my dog of a team would turn the worm and come out of the gate. Unfortunately, you can’t polish a turd, no matter how many layers of wishful thinking you apply. Yet with fortitude and some solid moves, even the most pathetic fantasy teams can turn it around and reach the pinnacles of greatness. I hope. No matter how terrible a draft went, at least one position is probably strong. Use this to leverage trades with other fantasy owners who might be weak at the position where your strength lies. Most fantasy sites have a slew of analytical tools that can be used to ensure that the trade will be beneficial to a team without giving up too much. Of course, even a lopsided trade should be considered if it fills a need in an extremely weak point. Free agency can be a very powerful tool as well. Every professional football team has rookies who might be starting now but weren’t picked up during the draft because of the uncertainty of playing time. While the big-name rookies probably went late, such as A.J. Green or Julio Jones, there are still plenty who didn’t get picked. Scout them out and pick them up. Once again, using analytical tools provided by the site that hosts your fantasy league can help you determine who will be worthy of a roster spot. Similarly, players injured in preseason were likely passed over during the draft. If they aren’t healthy yet or are just getting back, it’s unlikely that other owners are looking at them. While this will take a bit more research, the work could pay off in dividends if the player returns from injury to become a solid contributor for his team. Of course just like consuming gin cocktails — or shrimp cocktails — moderation is key. Don’t try and rebuild your team completely through trades and free agency. Those underperforming players might be just getting into the swing of things, especially considering the limited off-season programs teams had this year. Now go forth and wreak havoc. Photo: www.flickr.com/photos/stuartpilbrow/3270138986/sizes/m/in/photostream/