If you follow the NHL, you already know all of the top players. Obviously, when playing DFS, those players will come at a high cost. In this article, we are looking to find the cheaper value plays to help you afford the superstars.
Colin White, Center, Ottawa Senators
FanDuel Price: $4,600
While he is slated to play on the third line at even-strength with Tyler Ennis and Vladislav Namestnikov, Ottawa Senators center Colin White also plays on the team's top power-play unit, which gives him some intriguing upside against the worst team in the NHL. Now, Ottawa isn't much better, but the Detroit Red Wings are dead last with just a .386 points percentage (P%).
White hasn't done much this season with just two goals and four points in 14 games, but there is hope that he can turn things around, especially if he's going to spend more time on the top power-play unit.
Frank Vatrano, Winger, Florida Panthers
FanDuel Price: $3,700
Another even strength third-liner, Frank Vatrano has managed to put up six goals and nine points in 20 games this season, which isn't too bad. His price point is certainly intriguing, and because of that, he comes in as the third-highest points-per-dollar value play among wingers, as per our projections.
The Florida Panthers host the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Panthers have been scoring a ton this season. Their 3.55 goals per game rank as the fifth-best in the NHL, and while the Flyers have done a great job keeping the puck out of the net, it's still a solid spot for Vatrano and the Panthers.
Ryan Dzingel, Winger, Carolina Hurricanes
FanDuel Price: $4,600
Ryan Dzingel was a disappointing add for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, but he has had very little issue fitting in with the Carolina Hurricanes this season. He has put up 4 goals and 14 points in 20 games, which puts him on pace for 57 points and would basically equal his totals from last year between Ottawa and Columbus.
In addition to his solid output this season, he is playing on the second power-play unit, which is solid. The Hurricanes have a respectable 23.8 percent success rate with the man advantage, which ranks eighth overall in the NHL.
Jeff Petry, Defense, Montreal Canadiens
FanDuel Price: $4,200
Jeff Petry is once again on pace for over 40 points, despite seeing his goal total go down a bit. However, he is our third-highest points-per-dollar defenseman, as per our projections, which makes him tough to ignore. He plays on the second power-play unit, which gives him a bit more offensive upside.
In addition to his points, he produces the peripheral stats — shots on goal and blocked shots — which increases his floor and ceiling in the process. Petry is averaging 2.3 shots per game and 0.9 blocks per game. We'd like to see the blocks come up a bit since he averaged 1.5 per game last year and has averaged 1.59 per game over the course of his career.
Nate Schmidt, Defense, Vegas Golden Knights
FanDuel Price: $4,600
He missed the start of the season, but since returning from injury, Nate Schmidt has two goals and seven points in 10 games. He has been fantastic across the board, as he also plays on the team's second power-play unit. However, their power play distribution has been pretty steady across the forwards, with Shea Theodore dominating the power-play time on ice per game among defensemen.
Even if Schmidt doesn't play as much on the power play as we'd like, his 2.3 shots per game and 1.9 blocks per game give him considerable upside in games that he also gets on the scoresheet. A game against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that is going in a downward spiral seems like a great opportunity for Schmidt to dominate.
Ryan Sheppard is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Ryan Sheppard also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username donkshow_. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.