FanDuel NHL: January 22
By Matt Rogers
FanDuel NHL: January 22 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
For the Center position today, we’re starting early. The New York Rangers are playing at 12:30pm ET in Detroit against a Red Wings team who, while hot lately, isn’t playing well this season. So we’re going to stack our centers with value picks using the Rangers 2nd and 3rd lines.
Mika Zibanejad ($6,000) is on fire now. Mika has four goals and two assists in the New York Rangers last five games. Leading the Rangers 2nd regular line, Zibanejad is averaging close to 18 minutes of ice time, and is piling up shots on goal. Mika also is averaging a blocked shot per game, over the last two weeks.
Kevin Hayes ($5,600) isn’t as hot as Zibanejad, but like many New York Rangers, he’s not far off. Kevin is void of goals over the last five games, but is averaging an assists-per-game in that time, including two short-handed assists.
Hayes also averaged 3 shots on goal in the last five games, and had three blocked shots. With this matchup, Hayes has the potential to drop another 15-20 FanDuel NHL points.
Next: Top Wings
Top Wings
Patrick Kane ($8,600) is the most expensive option at wing today. But he could be a big pay-off too. Kane’s results have been up and down this season, but with 20-25 minutes a game on the ice, Patrick consistently scores near double-digit FanDuel NHL points. Against the Wild on the 15th, Kane piled up 43.2 points with two goals on twelve shots. With a great matchup against the Vancouver Canucks in Chicago tonight, I’m definitely plugging Kane in my lineup.
Another FanDuel NHL stud is Cam Atkinson ($7,300). Atkinson is averaging a point-per-game (goal or assists) after 43 games this season. Cam has 21 goals and has become the start of the Columbus Blue Jackets as they continue to surprise the NHL. Yesterday, Atkinson had 0 FanDuel NHL points with as little as 17 minutes on the ice. But I don’t expect the same outcome today in Ottawa. Atkinson will bounce-back in a solid matchup against the Senators.
Rounding out the four wing spots are old and new with Jason Chimera ($3,700) and Andreas Athanasiou ($4,700). Chimera and Athanasiou are each high-value picks. Both are hot lately averaging around double-digit FanDuel NHL points-per-game in the last two weeks. And each has a low salary, allowing us to afford the Kane/Atkinson lineup.
Also, with the Islanders plying the Flyers tonight and Red Wings playing the Rangers, we’re taking advantage of poor recent goalie play from opposing teams.
Next: Top Defense
Top Defense
As mentioned with our center picks, we like the Rangers matchup this afternoon against the Detroit Red Wings. So we’ll start at defense with the top defensive option from the Rangers 1st line, Ryan McDonagh ($5,700). Averaging around 24 minutes per game on the ice, McDonagh is also averaging a consistent 12 FanDuel NHL points per game. In high-scoring matchups, he can exceed 20 points easily. There’s potential for that outcome today.
The Flyers young defensive rookie Ivan Provorov ($4,600) has flown under the radar most of this season, but that is changing. The now 20-year-old (19 at the start of the season) is getting over 20 minutes of ice time per-game, and is recently averaging near double-digit FanDuel points per game as well. His salary is climbing, so we’re going to get him while he’s still affordable.
Next: Top Goalie
Top Goalie
The goalie options and match ups aren’t fantastic today. There are several starting goalies resting, and some of the best options do not have ideal matchups. So on days like this, we’ll lean heaviest on match up versus seasonal goaltender play.
Henrik Lundqvist ($8,700) is struggling this season and recently had several absolutely terrible games giving up four, five, and even seven goals in four of his last five games. However, Lundqvist rebounded on Thursday in Toronto, making 23 saves on 25 shots and taking the win. Henrik’s 22.4 FanDuel NHL points on Thursday matched his point total for his last win on January 7th.
This afternoon, the Rangers play in Detroit against the Red Wings. Detroit is having a terrible season, but have turned hot lately, winning four of their last five games. Still, Lundqvist could be rebounding as well and won his last game against the Wings in a 2-1 outcome. This is a risky play, but could yield a high return.
Next: FanDuel NFL Conf Champ 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!