Hello folks and welcome to my NHL Positional Breakdown for Fanduel!
For those of you who are new to the DFS Army, new to NHL DFS, or just like to read different articles, my name is Matt Dell’Agnese and I’m an MLB and NHL coach and writer for the DFS Army. Hit me for a follow on twitter at mdellagnese14. If you are a DFS Army VIP member you will know that I’m fairly active in our NHL rooms and around to help coach for the amazing sport of Hockey. I was brought to the DFS Army in January and I wrote Painting the Black for baseball, analyzing pitching picks for the slates.
If you’ve played MLB, NHL is very similar. The sports are both volatile and players can put up a 0 or low score at any time. Don’t get discouraged if you get cold, just keep with your process and the players will come around. For cash games, you want to correlate players who skate on the same line or same Power play line, in GPPs stack up the full lines.
Thankfully, Chop has asked me to help out with our NHL content articles!
Check out Flynn’s article that describes how we start our process of creating lineups – Beginning NHL Strategy.
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I will be breaking down each position with the players who I like with my reasonings for liking them on the slate! I am a Fanduel player, so these articles will include Fanduel pricing and scoring references! Remember to always check for confirmation of goalies and lines! Let’s dive into this big Wednesday Slate!
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Goalies
Frederik Andersen (8.9k): I know he’s expensive, but this matchup is really good for him. Andersen has been simply amazing this year and gets to face a Hurricanes team that shoots a ton, but doesn’t score all that much. Over their L10 games, the Canes have an insane 38.9 SOG but are only scoring 2 goals/game. I love Andersen for cash games and he has the ceiling for tournaments tonight too. Oh, and he is our top-rated goalie on our amazing Research Station
Pekka Rinne (9.2k): Another goalie who is expensive, but always seems to get it done. The Predators are allowing just 2 goals/game over their last 10 thanks to Rinne. When Rinne sees more shots, he’s a much better goalie and that will help his DFS floor. The Blues are shooting only around 28 shots per game, but they are not scoring either. At home, Rinne is 5-1 and has only allowed 10 goals with 2 shutouts.
Jimmy Howard (8.5k): My man Jimmy Howard is finally priced up to his production. People will see that he’s facing the Bruins and not even think about clicking him. Howard has been outstanding lately scoring 19.2 points or more in each of his last 9 starts. Even when he doesn’t get the win, he is usually stopping enough shots to get the points. He’s only allowed more than 2 goals in 3 of his last 9 starts. The Bruins are a different team without Bergeron on their top line and it has shown. In their last 10, they are scoring just 2.4 goals/game and to make matters worse, they have been bad on the road this year scoring just 1.91 goals/game while taking just 26.8 shots/game. Howard makes for an excellent GPP option on tonight’s slate.
Devan Dubnyk (8.8k): I’m not the biggest fan of Dub right now, but this matchup couldn’t be any better for him. OTT was a team we wanted to use recently, but their road record is not good this year and in the last 2 years, the Wild have done well against the Sens. OTT is playing well right now, but they are also allowing tons of shots and goals too, making Dub have a better chance at the win. The Wild also are allowing just 2.5 goals/game in their L10 games which is a positive sign. The Wild offense is in a great spot and Dub should be able to get the win tonight.
Braden Holtby (8.6k): Man do I HATE writing up Holtby, I don’t like him, he always seems to stink it up when I like him, but this matchup is amazing for him. The Blackhawks can’t seem to score if the net was 30 feet wide. Our Research Station loves Holtby too. Chicago has scored just 1.6 goals/game in their last 10 which is the lowest I have seen all season. The last two years the Caps have only allowed 2 goals to the Hawks at home. Holtby isn’t a cash game option for me, but he does have the upside in tournaments. Heck, we saw him put up 40 against the Penguins a few starts ago.
John Gibson (8.2k): This is a pretty low price for Gibby, especially at home. VAN is projected to score the 3rd lowest on the slate right now (2.4 goals), and Gibson has been great at times this year. He seems to be over his illness that kept him out earlier this week. The Canucks have been shooting, but have struggled in their L10 on the road. They still get off close to 30 shots but are scoring just 2.5 goals/game. They have played the Ducks 9 times in the last 2 years and have only been able to muster 1.56 goals/game. The Ducks have not been the best offensively but they have been good on the defensive end. At home, they haven’t allowed many goals per game and Gibson has a very good .928 save percentage this season which is 8th best in the NHL.
Centers
John Tavares (8.5k): What a great matchup with the Hurricanes tonight. Tavares projects THREE points higher than any other Center for us at the DFSArmy tonight and he’s simply been amazing. He’s averaging 18.7 points in his last 10 games and 20.7 in his last 5. Tavares scores and shoots a ton. He’s involved in TOR scoring 33.78% of the time too. Pair with Rielly.
Nathan MacKinnon (8.6k): Both of these guys are in great spots. Nasty Nate is on one of the if not the hottest lines in hockey right now and they have a good matchup with LAK. Him and his linemates (who I also like), have scored 10 goals in their last 10 games and have been doing it all. MacK is involved in 40.85% of the teams scoring and brings a very high floor, which you need for his price tag.
Matt Duchene (6.6k): Probably the hottest centers over the last week is Matt Duchene. The matchup is tough tonight with the Wild, but he’s been amazing. His last 5 games he is averaging 28 fanduel points while shooting the puck about 5 times per game. His fantasy production is coming off his goal scoring and assists lately, but he’s still a decent price. I like him more for tournaments tonight though in this tough matchup.
Tyler Seguin (7.7k): This matchup with PIT is lovely for Seguin and DAL1. I see them putting up great points against DeSmith. He’s one of their most consistent players anddoesn’t doesnt score, he still averages around 5 SOG per game.
Jack Eichel (7.5k): This matchup with Philly could get overlooked tonight as Buffalo’s top line has been the 2nd most productive of late. Definitely stack him up with his linemates to get the full production. He’s usually the guy assisting on the goals as he has 9 assists over his last 10 games, along with 2 goals and 43 SOGBS.
Brayden Point (7k): This is a rather steep price for Point as he has a rather low floor. With that being said, I love him for tournaments. As long as he’s getting a ton of PP time, he’s a good GPP play. He has 4 PPG over his last 5 games, and that’s how he’s getting so many fantasy points. GPP only!
Mikko Koivu (5.9k): He’s been the better Center of the top 6 over the last 5 games and for under 6k he’s a solid play against OTT. MIN is projected to score close to 4 goals and Koivu has been assisting on a lot. His last 4 games have been great and when he’s getting shots off, he’s been rather accurate. Stack up with his linemates.
Others to consider: Nelson, Larkin, Crosby, Backstrom
Wings
Mikko Rantanen (7.6k)/Gabriel Landeskog (6.7k): Nasty Nate’s linemen have been just as hot as him of late. They are both in play especially if you can’t find the money to get up to Nate. They are apart of the hottest line in the NHL against a team who’s goalies can give up goals? Yes, please!
Patric Hornqvist (5.9k): I’m not sure when fanduel will learn to price him up more, but for his price and productions he’s near a lock and load for me. Horn has found new life on line 1 for PIT. As of now, he’s still projected on the first line with Crosby coming back. He has 26 SOGBS in his last 5 games with 4 goals and 3 assists. Fire him up!
Matt Hoffman (6.2k): Hoffman is finally over 6k and he should be. He’s been so consistent for FLA and been involved in all of their scoring. In the last 10 games, he has a line of 5/8/43 which is an amazing floor for his price. Using him and Hornqvist brings a solid floor for a total salary of 12.1k and they easily can combine for 2-3x.
Alexander Radulov (6.2k): I love going back to DAL1 tonight against a leaky BOS team. He’s projected the 4th highest according to our Research Station.
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Okay, back to Radulov. Since coming back from injury, he’s been great! Over his last 10 games, he has 7 goals, 7 assists, and 41 SOGBS. That floor for 6.2k is very great value and I can see him having a good game against tonight.
Mitch Marner (7.6k): Love pairing him with either Tavares or Rielly tonight. They have a great matchup with CAR and they have been great of late too. Marner is more of the assist guy right now as he has 8 assists over his last 5 games. He still shoots the puck, but much of his fantasy production comes from apples (fancy word for assists).
Drake Batherson (3.2k): He is still very cheap and even though its a tough matchup with Dub, he can still put up some points. The rookie will not keep up this consistency, but for this price, we can still use him. His minutes have been going up each game and he’s also getting time on the power-play.
Tom Wilson (4.7k): It’s usually hard to pay up for Ove, but using Wilson will give you access to Ove. Since getting a full allotment of minutes, Wilson has been great in his last 2 games (seeing 20+ min in both). He has 2 assists in each game, but also has 7 shots and 2 blocks. For under 5k in this matchup with the Blackhawks, he is solid value tonight.
Jason Pominville (4.7k)/Jeff Skinner (6.8k): As I said earlier, I love BUF1 tonight and pairing either of these guys with Eichel is great for their matchup with PHI. Skinner has been the hotter one of the two, but Pominville just got moved back to the line and has the opportunity to score goals with Eichel getting a ton of assists. Pominville is a good value under 5k too.
Zach Parise (6.4k): I like the Wild tonight, but I do prefer their 2nd line. Parise paired with Koivu has been a money maker of late and they should be able to keep it going against the Senators. He has 19 SOGBS in his last 5 games along with 3 goals.
Other to consider: CONNOR, Wheeler, Kreider, Pastrnak, Ovechkin, Athanasiou, Kucherov, Smith
Defense
Roman Josi (6.5k): Much to pay up for on D today, but Josi is one of my favorites. He’s been as consistent as it gets at the defense position. Over his L10 games, he has averaged close to 19 fanduel points with an amazing 54 SOGBS (shots+blocks). He scores and gets assists and blocks shots, he does everything.
Morgan Rielly (6.6k): I slightly prefer Josi of Rielly, but this matchup against CAR is one I love tonight. He doesn’t do as much in terms of blocks, but he scores more goals than many defensemen. He’s involved in 35% of the Leafs scoring and he has one of the best floors.
Matt Dumba (5.5k): Dumba is a solid discount from the other two and has close to the same production of late. The matchup with the Senators is a great one too as the Wild are projected the highest on this slate tonight. Over the last 5 games Dumba actually has the most fanduel points average out of any defensemen tonight. He brings a solid floor with shooting, blocking and getting powerplay goals and assists.
Tyson Barrie (5.1k): He’s actually the 5.1k D-Man I like more tonight, yes even over Chabot. Barrie has been a workhorse for the Avs lately and they are playing amazing hockey. He has 5 assists in his last 5 games and has 21 SOGBS including a 7 SOG game last time out against the Ducks. The Kings are good defensively, but I think COL offense overpowers the Kings D tonight.
Alex Pietrangelo (5.2k): I don’t love this matchup against Rinne, but Piet has been so consistent. He isn’t getting into the scoring column, but his SOGBS are the best in the league over the last 5 games. He has 7 straight games with over 10 fanduel points and sees almost 25 min a night on the ice.
Thomas Chabot (5.1k): I like him less than usual tonight, but MIN can still be leaky. He’s been one of the best D-Man in the league over the last couple of weeks and has one of the highest floors lately. Even if he doesn’t get in the point column, his SOG and BS are normally enough to bring him over 10 fanduel points. If he can get one through or get an assist tonight, he could score 15+.
Mike Green (4.8k): Green will probably be virtually unowned on such a large slate, but he’s been very good of late. I do like this matchup with BOS though. When looking at our Consistency Ratings on the Research Station, he’s hit 10 fanduel points 7 out of the last 10 games and 4 of the last 5. He’s averaging over 13 fanduel points in the last 10 games and brings a line of 1/8/34 in his last 10 games. For those of you who don’t know, that is Goals/Assists/Shots+BS.
Other Value plays to consider: Orlov (WSH, 4.5k), Pionk (NYR, 4.5k), Montour (ANH, 4.2k)
That’s it for me tonight! Hope you all enjoyed my new article for hockey! Remember, sign up using my code DFSMATT
Good Luck everyone!
