FanDuel NHL: January 3
By Matt Rogers
FanDuel NHL: January 3 is a daily fantasy sports column focusing on the best FanDuel NHL player and value options for your daily lineups. The salary options are based on the daily salaries set by FanDuel. We’ll check the best options in each position, and help you afford an ideal lineup for your big FanDuel NHL paydays.
Before we review the top options for each FanDuel NHL lineup position, let’s review the FanDuel NHL scoring rules:
Forwards/Defense
- Goals = 12pts
- Assists = 8pts
- Shots on Goal = 1.6pts
- Short Handed points = 2pts
- Power Play Points = 0.5pts
- Blocked Shots = 1.6pts
Goalies
- Win = 12pts
- Goals Against = -4pts
- Saves = 0.8pts
- Shutouts = 8pts
Given the FanDuel NHL scoring options, we know the top options for offense and defense are players who tend to score a goal or record an assist in most games. Also, if one of those players is often playing on the penalty kill, there’s an added benefit if they could score the unique short-handed goal. The Ottawa Senators led the NHL in the 2015-2016 season with 17 short-handed goals.
As for Goalies, you’ll want to pick a goalie on a team who has the highest winning percentage of the day. Losing the 12 point win can easily be the difference between losing money and a big pay-day. A FanDuel comparison would be picking a MLB pitcher who will most likely win.
Now that we’ve established the rules and goals for playing FanDuel NHL, let’s take a look at tonight’s best options:
Next: Top Centers
Top Centers
Auston Matthews ($7,400) continues his amazing rookie season. The 19-year-old was absolutely amazing in the New Year’s Day Winter Classic, delivering the game winning goal against the Detroit Red Wings.
Over the last two weeks, Mathews averaged around 25 FanDuel NHL points-per-game, and is one of the top Centers in DFS Hockey during that time. Matthews’ salary remains inexplicably low, likely due to his rookie status and inability to stay consistent. However, this could become a consistent theme for 2017. We’re staying with the hot-hand on a bargain salary.
Derek Stepan ($6,700) is the center of the New York Rangers top regular and power play lines. The Rangers offense has been dynamic this season, scoring more goals than any other team in the NHL.
Stepan hasn’t been as consistent as Matthews, but in good match-ups, he scored over 30 FanDuel NHL points each game. Tonight, the Rangers have a fantastic match-up for Stepan, against the struggling Buffalo Sabres. Expect another big night from the Rangers top scoring lines tonight.
Next: Top Wings
Top Wings
Now with 15 straight wins, the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to be the hottest team in the NHL. Nick Foligno ($6,600) is a big contributor to the Blue Jackets success. Over the last week, Nick has averaged around 20 FanDuel NHL points-per-game.
Foligno is consistently scoring around that range of points each game. We’ve now talked about Nick in several articles over the past two weeks and he has yet to disappoint. With a sub-$7,000 salary and a 20 point scoring option, we continue play Foligno again tonight with a great match-up between Columbus and the Edmonton Oilers.
Playing on the 2nd regular and 1st power play lines for the Los Angeles Kings, Tanner Pearson ($5,200) has flown under the radar of many FanDuel NHL players. He’s often owned in the low-single digits. However, Pearson is averaging around 15 FanDuel NHL points per game, on 16 minutes of ice time per game. And with a low $5,200 bargain salary, Tanner is a fantastic ROI option at wing.
Rounding out our wing options are Sebastian Aho ($4,700) and Connor Brown ($4,000). Brown is on Auston Matthews line and have a very big Winter Classic game, piling up 31.2 FanDuel NHL points. We’ll stack Brown with Matthews hot-hand tonight. Aho is consistently averaging around 17 FanDuel NHL points-per-game over the last two weeks. And the Devils will have Keith Kinkaid in goal tonight. Kinkaid was absolutely lit up by the Capitals in his last outing.
Next: Top Defense
Top Defense
Next to Brent Burns, Victor Hedman ($7,000) is the best defensive option tonight, and the 2nd most expensive. Hedman is averaging around 25 FanDuel NHL points over the last two weeks. Playing on the Tampa Bay Lightening top lines tonight, Victor has a wonderful match-up tonight, at home, against the Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets will have Connor Hellebuyck in goal. Hellebuyck is a solid goaltender playing with a poor defensive unit in front of him. Hedman should have multiple scoring chances, while also providing the best defense, and most blocked shots, for the Lightening.
Jeff Petry ($5,000) and the Canadiens have a challenging match-up tonight in Nashville, against Pekka Rinne and the Predators. But the Canadiens are a better team, and Petry is averaging over twelve FanDuel NHL points per game in his last five games. Playing on the 2nd regular line, and 1st power play line, for the Canadiens, Jeff should be heavily involved in Montreal’s victory tonight.
Next: Top Goalie
Top Goalie
Cam Ward ($8,300) isn’t necessarily the best goalie of tonight’s game, however, he’s the best option to yield around 20 FanDuel NHL points and leave us with plenty of cash to build high-scoring lines.
Over the last two weeks, Ward and the Carolina Hurricanes have improved this season. Cam had over 20 points in three of his last five starts. Ward’s two games in the single-digits, were against very good Penguin and Lightening teams, so they weren’t great match-ups.
But tonight, the Hurricanes are playing the 7th place New Jersey Devils, at home in Carolina. This is a good match-up for the Canes, who have won six of their last ten games. Also, Ward’s salary is well below $9,000, giving us plenty of free cash for our big plays at Center, Wing, and Defense.
Always check NHL lineups throughout the day when playing FanDuel NHL. As a fan, you likely know the league isn’t overly forthcoming with injury news, and players are often scratched at the last-minute with little information. Also, goaltenders are never a sure-thing. Good Luck today Fanduelers!