If you play in fantasy leagues long enough, you’re bound to get at least one offer that is downright ridiculous. I’m talking about requests at the beginning of the season for your first round player in exchange for the other owner’s seventh round player. I’m talking about requests for your stud player for the other owner’s player who has a big name because he’s tabloid fodder and not because of his performance on the field. When the trade offer is really bad, it’s downright insulting.

If you decline the offer, the offending owner may cease and desist. But there’s always the chance that the owner will come around again next week trying to poach your best player. You may want to go one step further and send him a message.

One solution is to offer a counter offer. Rather than you sending your best player to the other owner, offer to send your middling bench player to him in exchange for his top player. You don’t really expect that he’ll do it, but he should at least get the message that you’re not interested in his games.

And that should be the end of it.