One week in the books for November, as we get closer to the holiday season, a lot of people are looking for turkeys for family dinners and gifts for holiday presents. Fantasy hockey is not too much different. We are looking to see who the turkeys are but we try to avoid them. And we are looking for presents but to give to ourselves in the shape of a hidden gem or a deep sleeper.
At this point of the season, we are starting to get a better idea of what players starts are for real or just a facade. Like, Will Thomas Chabot really keep up his over a point-per-game pace or not? Is Jake Allen really this bad? And, is Gritty the most frightening and talked about mascot in the NHL. All these questions and more are floating around. For us, this is all need to know info for a DFS Fan Duel success….well except for Gritty….unless he gets some power play time. All jokes aside, in the following paragraphs you will get a blueprint for success or pieces of info to use with your blueprint to make your Saturday in FanDuel hockey a success!
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Center
Sean Monahan (CGY): $7,700 vs. LA Kings
Monahan is centering the potent first line for the Calgary Flames and he and his linemates Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm are all on a career-high pace. Monahan has 8 goals and 10 assists through 16 games and 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 games this week. Monahan has a solid 16.1 FPPG on FanDuel and is a steal for the price. Monahan is going up against a Los Angeles Kings team that has gotten off to a rough start and is without starting goalie, Jonathan Quick, so Monahan and his linemates should be able to work a little FanDuel magic for you on Saturday. Taking a player like Monahan who is slightly below top tier in price will allow you to have an evenly balanced squad with no gaps in production.
Max Domi (MON): $6,800 vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Domi clearly must have been watching Leafs legend Mats Sundin growing up rather than his father, Tie Domi. Max Domi‘s high skill level is coming to fruition after a trade in the off-season from Arizona to Montreal. With top power-play duty and forming a solid combo with Jonathan Drouin on the second even-strength line Domi is off to a remarkable start this season. Domi has 9 goals and 10 assists through 16 games and to boot has been on a tear of late with 3 goals and 4 assists in 4 games this week. Domi has a solid FPPG so far this year. Domi’s matchup on Saturday is against a decent defensive team in the Vegas Golden Knights but he should still be able to get you some points to help out your squad.
Wing
Mark Stone (OTT): $6,400 vs Tampa Bay
Stone has been one of the hottest players in the league this past week. Stone is doing his best to prove that Ottawa can be successful without Erik Karlsson. Stone is getting first line duty at even strength and on the power play so that should give him substantial scoring opportunities. Stone has 2 goals and 7 assists in 4 games this week to bring his season totals to 6 goals and 13 assists through 16 games. His point per game pace seems to be the real deal and it has helped him to a healthy 16.4 FPPG so far this season. Stone’s matchup is the only thing that may give pause to choose him on Saturday as he plays the Lightning and goes up against a tough goalie in Andrei Vasilevsky. The Lightning are without their top shutdown defenseman in Victor Hedman so between that and Stone’s dialed-in play of late you should get good production for a price that won’t cripple your team.
Yanni Gourde (TB): $5,900 vs Ottawa
Anyone who has followed my pieces knows that I love me some Gourde. Gourde is the ultimate value pick. Gourde is often overlooked and undervalued. After a season and a half of high-level production (64 points last season), you can be assured that Gourde is for real even if he benefits from being surrounded by offensive talent. As just stated, Gourde is off to another strong start this season with 7 goals and 10 assists in 16 games. While he may not keep up the point per game pace the whole season you might as well take advantage while he is on his hot streak. Gourde has 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 games this week and is coming into the perfect storm on Saturday by facing a last in the league in goals allowed in the Ottawa Senators. Go all in on Gourde on Saturday and you won’t be disappointed!
Josh Bailey (NYI): $5,800 vs Florida
As the correspondent for the Islanders on this site, I can safely say Bailey is a steal at $5,800. Bailey has become the new star of the Islanders with the departure of John Tavares in the off-season. Bailey is running first line duty at even strength and on the power play. Bailey has raised the levels of those around him, the mark of a true star, and is getting his points, too. Bailey has 5 goals and 12 assists through 15 games this season. His point per game pace is highly sustainable as he reached a career high of 71 points last season and looks to take another step in point production. This week Bailey had 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games. Bailey owns a solid 13.9 FPPG so far this season. Bailey goes up against an ageless Roberto Luongo and the Florida Panthers on Saturday which may prove to be a challenge but Bailey should continue to find a way to add points to your FanDuel squad.
Alex Tuch (VGK): $4,800 vs Montreal
BARGAIN ALERT: Alex Tuch is sliding under the radar with his DFS value after starting the season injured. Since returning from injury Tuch looks better than ever! Tuch is centering the Golden Knights top power play and the second line with Max “Patches” Pacioretty so it’s no wonder he has gotten his points. Tuch has 3 goals and 4 assists through 8 games this season. And with 15.9 FPPG for $4,800 he is an absolute steal. Tuch has a pretty good matchup in a Montreal that is in the middle of the pack in the NHL for goals allowed. Grab Tuch while he is still so cheap and cash in on this bargain!
Defense
Neal Pionk (NYR): $4,200 vs Columbus
Pionk is the definition of a hidden gem. Pionk is an offensive-minded defenseman undrafted out of Minnesota-Duluth who has found success of late with the New York Rangers. Pionk is quarterbacking the top power play for the Rangers. Pionk has 3 goals and 6 assists through 14 games and has 3 goals in 3 games this week. Pionk goes up against a Columbus Blue Jackets team uncharacteristically porous for a John Tortorella club. Take Pionk, save money, grab points, and win your league!
Keith Yandle (FLA): $5,500 vs New York Islanders
There is nothing surprising about Yandle’s performance so far this year. Yandle has been an offensive juggernaut for years on the blue line. Maligned in the past for his lack of defensive prowess that has not really been a big enough of an issue for teams not to put him on the first power play unit and for him to grab 40-60 points a year. This year is no different but his pace has quickened as he has 3 goals and 10 assists in 12 games this year for over a point per game. Is this sustainable…probably not a point per game but 60-70 points might not be out of the question. Why is he such a good choice now? Well, Yandle does have 2 goals and 2 assists in 3 games this week and has a 16.4 FPPG which is equal to top forwards. Yandle has a profitable match up in the Islanders who have been manned by a combo of Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss in net. Both of whom have been solid but known to have occasional lapses. Bet on a lapse against Yandle.
Goalie
Roberto Luongo (FLA): $7,700 vs New York Islanders
Luongo needs no introduction. Luongo has been a pillar of net production in his long career. This year is no different, including injuries, as he is 2-0-1 in his first 3 starts. Luongo looks to best his original NHL team on Saturday. The Islanders have been a surprisingly offensively productive team so far this season but so have Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Tampa Bay who Luongo has found success against in his first 3 games. Will Luongo keep this up all season? Probably not, but while he is healthy and productive you should strike while the iron is hot and pick him up for the win on Saturday.
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Erik Zingg is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Erik, check out his archive and follow him @HeldigKartofl75.
