Junk Yard Dogs is about pointing out value players for your cash line up builds that give you floor, but also leave you Cap room to pay up at other positions. They are often those low-cost players who are the punts……or Junk …..of the possible options on today’s slate.
The theory behind this is based on @choppodong’s Bottom Up line-up building videos as well as his new video for people new to hockey DFS, which if you haven’t watched you really should. You can find them here ( YouTube ). For more detailed versions, join dfsarmy.com‘s VIP program and gain full access.
I am not one of the coaches but am really just sharing my own research and trying and give back to this community which has helped me out. This is focused on cash games on DK.
Remember, for value, we are looking for players hitting about .6 points or more per $1000 in price in at least 6 of their last 10 games, as well as being lower on the cost scale. This isn’t to say there aren’t value players at a higher cost, but the purpose of this article is to help you find those cheaper plays that leave you lot of cap room to fit in those studs you want. Team stats are coming to the NHL Research Station under the NHL tab at dfsarmy.com
Defense
For defense often the main thing we look for is floor. This generally comes from consistency and for D in particular, their blocked shots ( BS) and shots on goal ( SOG). D can often reach value on those stats alone, thus goals and assists are almost bonus value.
Alzner ( Mtl) $3000 is averaging 2.8 DK pts/game, with slightly over 2 coming from BS and SOG. He has hit value in 7 / 10, including 4 straight. He is playing on the first pairing. Carolina’s Adjusted Corsi numbers show they have increased their shot attempts, while on the Montreal side they are not defending well against the top line. This likely hood of a lot of shots coming Montreal’s way, combined with Alzner’s cheap price and consistency makes him my top value dman tonight.
Phaneuf (Ott) $3300 is averaging 2.8 DK pts/game with 2.4 coming from BS and SOG. He also gets PP2 time. Ottawa’s adjusted Corsi shows they are currently the worst team in the league for giving up shot attempts. This should provide Phaneuf with lots of opportunity for blocking shots, and his PP time for SOG, which leads us to anticipate a solid floor for him tonight.
Slavin( Car)$3600 is averaging 2.9 DK pts/game with 2.35 from BS and SOG. Montreal is in the bottom 3rd of the league defensively against top d pairings, so that should give Slavin some solid opportunity. He also gets PP2 time.
Other plays: Scandella (Min) Gudas (Phi) Ceci ( Ott) Johns (Dal) Tanev (Van)
Centre
Soderberg ( Col) $3600 is averaging 2.9 Dk pts/game. He is projected to be sliding into McKinnon’s slot tonight on the first line. He is also on PP2. Edmonton has been friendly to first line centres, so all the signs indicate this could be a good night for Soderberg.
Rask (Car) $4000 is averaging 2.8 DK points/game. Montreal is at the line between middle and bottom 3rd of the league against 2nd line Centres, as well as being at a similar place in terms of Corsi against.
Lowry ( Wpg) $3300. Hear me out on this one. I know Lowry is only playing his second game back from injury ( missed 8 games I think). But he still put up 2.5 DK pts in that first game. If we look at his last 10 actually played, he has an avg of 3.6 DK pts/game and hit value in 7/10. He isn’t projected to get any pp time which he was prior to his injury, but at this low of a price with that potential avg, if you are looking for a one-off somewhere in the slate, Lowry could be your guy. He is my call as the top value centre tonight.
Other plays: Plekanec ( Mtl) McCann ( Flo)
Wingers
Des lauriers ( Mtl) $3100 is averaging 2.1 DK pts/game, hitting value in 6 of 10. Though his numbers aren’t staggering, he makes this list due to the matchup, and the fact that he has been warmer lately ( I cant say hot) hitting value in 4 straight and is cheap like borscht.
Panik (Ari) $3400 has hit value in 7/10 including the last 4, with an avg of 2.7 DK pts/game. Arizona has an implied team total of 2.5 goals. Someone has to score……right? Panik plays on the top line and PP2. His consistency is what is getting him on this list tonight.
Compher ( Col) $3400 has hit value in 8/10, with an avg of 3.7 DK pts/game. Interestingly for a forward, he is averaging 2 DK pts/game from BS and SOG. To get this kind of floor and the high average, and be this cheap, it feels like his price should be higher. Going against Edmonton, which should be a positive matchup for the Avalanche, even without McKinnon in the lineup, makes Compher my Value Winger of the night
Other Plays: Komarov ( Tor) Brouwer ( Cal) Iafallo (LA) Dzingal ( Ott) Grabner ( NYR)
Also, check out Flynnie’s Forecheck when it comes out on the site and Chopodong’s breakdown for more info on the slate. Good luck tonight and see you in Slackchat
JD