Just realized there was a thread this year. Nice! I've got all three of my main drafts coming up this weekend.
Guys I'm targeting this year for their relative ADP:
Stafford, Rivers, RGIII, Mariota
Crowell, Hill, Henry, James White, Hyde, Murray
Funchess, Michael Thomas, Hilton, Dorsett, Torrey Smith, Diggs, Snead
Fleener, Bennett
Avoiding relative to ADP:
Bortles, Big Ben
AP, McCoy, Rawls
Benjamin, Parker, Hurns and especially Robinson, Treadwell, Baldwin
Trying to make trades with the guys in my main league is just too fucking hard. First two years these idiots were vetoing every thing. We finally get rid of it because at least half the guys can't be trusted. But even then when I tried making trades last year I had no takers because A) people were too loyal to the guys they drafted and B) They won't trade unless the trade was heavily in their favor. Early into last season I tried Demaryius for Frank Gore, he wouldn't do it. Around mid season I tried John Brown for Gio Bernard, that guy wouldn't do it unless I give him Demaryius instead. Both times I felt it was either fair or I slightly gave them the better end of the deal. I was kind of desperate for a RB because I misfired with McCoy(injured a lot) and Randle(went AWOL on his team).
And now my latest effort, I tried Charles and either Maclin or Benjamin(my 2nd, 4th, and 5th) for Leveon and Jordan Reed(his 2nd and 5th). Again value wise I think that's about even or slightly in his favor. And again I deal with another person who won't unless he comes out further on top. He wants Gurley instead of Charles. He justifies it by saying he would be hurting badly at the TE position. We're using the chat section of the Yahoo fantasy app. But if I could talk to him in person I would have probably said "Who gives a fuck?". I sent a fair trade, if you don't want it then it's cool. But I feel so insulted when they come back with a counter offer like this and I honestly believe they don't think anything is wrong with it.
Sorry, had to get that out of my system.
Your initial offer was fine - even if personally I think you're overvaluing Maclin and Benjamin who are in a slew of solid 3-7 round receivers (Benjamin in particular is dropping fast). His counter offer was also more than fine. Follow your own advice in bold.
You have to remember that not everyone values players the same way you do.