Despite playing fantasy games for over twenty years, I've just gotten into leagues involving FAAB bidding over the last couple of seasons. Thus far, I've been fascinated by the divisions in how to use FAAB money to bid on free agents.

Most seasons, it seems like the majority of the teams in active leagues save their money in hopes of hitting it big when a major player comes over from the other league at the trade deadline. However, a couple of teams usually go the other direction. What normally happens is these teams spend a little bit of money early to fill a hole created by an injury, find that they have less money than everyone else, and decide to start spending.

I usually fall into this category. The logic essentially is that there can't possibly be enough major players moving at the trade deadline to enable the team with the ninth most money to get anyone of note. Accordingly, it instead makes sense to use more liberal spending before the deadline to make sure you get just about any player you want.

In deep leagues, you're unlikely to hit the jackpot very often, but you will be able to gain a slight advantage week to week, as you can bid more freely on two-start pitchers and relievers with favorable matchups. 

Even in leagues that eschew FAAB in favor of waiver wire systems that allow transactions on more of a first come, first served basis, a similar situation can develop. I currently sit in the third waiver position in one of my leagues. This is a particularly dangerous position, as there is potential to get a very good player at the trade deadline, while last year, only Randy Winn provided much help at the deadline. Meanwhile, I sit watching the teams, that know they won't have a shot at such a player later on, use the waiver wire freely.

Perhaps the most interesting FAAB situation is the occasional early-season trade. When the Indians traded Milton Bradley to the Dodgers a couple of spring trainings back, it presented fantasy owners with a very interesting option -- spending all of their FAAB money on a player who would be getting a full season as a starter, practically guaranteed.

What is the prognosis for this trade deadline? Well, a situation like last year, where few major trades occur, seems quite possible again. More than half the league (sixteen teams) currently sit within five games of first place. All but seven teams are within nine games.

That means that very few teams will be willing to pull the trigger on a major deal to trade away talent. Among the teams in the worst shape, Kansas City has nobody to trade and Florida has already traded just about everyone. So there is reason to believe the deadline will again pass quietly.

So my advice to you is to spend now, while hopefully some of your opponents are sleeping.