FanDuel NHL: January 13

FanDuel NHL: January 13 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.

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

Especially from a fantasy hockey perspective, Nazem Kadri ($6,800) and many other Toronto Maple Leaf players have become a hot commodity this season.  Along with young 19-year-old star Auston Matthews, the Leafs have really awaken the historic Toronto hockey fan base.

Kadri is leading Toronto’s 1st regular and 2nd power play lines tonight in a likely shoot-out against the Rangers in New York.  Nazem is averaging around 18 FanDuel NHL points-per-game over the last two weeks and is a solid value under $7,000.

Kevin Hayes ($5,400) is one of many New York Rangers we target weekly because of the Rangers high-powered offensive units.  Hayes leads the Rangers 2nd regular and power play lines and is averaging around 14 FanDuel NHL points-per-game over the last two weeks.  That average would be higher but Kevin had a rare goose-egg (0 points) against the Sabres on January 3rd.

Next: Top Wings

Top Wings

Continuing with the Rangers v Maples Leafs likely high-scoring game, we’ll include James van Riemsdyk ($7,200) in our lineup as one of our wings.  van Riemsdyk is having a great year muted by all the young talent around him in Toronto.  Over the last two weeks, James is averaging around 17 FanDuel NHL points-per-game.  van Riemsdyk’s last three games were each between 20-35 points.  James should have another great result tonight.

Stacking J.T. Miller ($5,700) with Kevin Hayes is a high-value stacking option tonight.  Each salary is below $6,000, but they’re each averaging around 15 FanDuel NHL points-per-game and are able to pile up over 20 points several times in a two-week period.  

Elias Lindholm ($4,300) finally came back from an injury on Tuesday, and recorded 14.4 FanDuel NHL points against the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The Carolina Hurricanes are currently a hot team, and Elias is on one of their top two lines tonight Buffalo Sabres.

Speaking of the Sabres, we’re looking at Marcus Foligno ($4,000) again as a high-value bargain. Foligno struggled against the Tampa Bay Lightening last night, only scoring 1.6 FanDuel NHL points.  But the Lightening brought Ben Bishop back on the ice for the first time since being on the IR, and Bishop was absolutely locked in.  Tonight, Marcus has a better match-up against Cam Ward.

Next: Top Defense

Top Defense

The Chicago Blackhawks are in Washington, D.C. tonight to take on the Capitals in what should be a great game to watch.  So we’re going to grab the Hawks and Caps top two defenders, Duncan Keith ($6,600) and John Carlson ($6,200).

Keith is averaging around 15 FanDuel NHL points-per-game recently, and had 20-30 points in each of his last two games.  Carlson is absolutely on fire, averaging over 20 points in the last two weeks, and has scored around 25+ points in three of the Caps last five games.

Although each team has a good goalie in net, they also each have one of the best offenses in the NHL and will score several goals tonight.  Goals are the result of many shots, which Keith and Carlson will be blocking as well.

Next: Top Goalie

Top Goalie

In his last five games, Connor Hellebuyck ($8,300) has improved on his season with three wins, a loss, and a no decision result.  On Monday, Hellebuyck shut out a hot Calgary Flames team at home in Winnipeg.  The young 23-year-old is beginning to entrench himself as the future starting net-minder for the Jets.

Tonight, the Jets and Hellebuyck have a juicy match-up against a struggling Arizona Coyotes hockey team.  The Coyotes are next up to the Colorado Avalanche as the worst team in the NHL. In the last 10 games, Arizona is 1-8-1 and are averaging only 2.6 goals-per-game, 2nd worst in the NHL.

Connor may not log a ton of saves tonight because the Coyotes won’t have many scoring chances, but he’s very likely to get a win.  So 20 FanDuel NHL points from Hellebuyck is a likely scenario tonight.

Next: FanDuel NFL Divisional Playoffs

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!