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
Jack Hughes, Center, New Jersey Devils
FanDuel Price: $4,300
It's rare when you're looking to use a player on the 28th-ranked team in the NHL and the 24th-ranked offense. However, tonight, the New Jersey Devils host the disastrous Detroit Red Wings — a team that ranks 31st in points and allows the most goals in the NHL.
Jack Hughes is having a relatively modest rookie season for a first overall pick, but he's centering the top line with Kyle Palmieri and Jesper Bratt on his wings. In addition, this line remains intact on the top power-play unit, which makes the entire line stack a viable play.
Tyler Johnson, Winger, Tampa Bay Lightning
FanDuel Price: $4,200
The Tampa Bay Lightning have suddenly been hit hard by injury. They are missing Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Anthony Cirelli tonight, so there are some second and third-liners being thrust into more prominent roles.
Tyler Johnson is definitely one of these players, as he is expected to be on the team's top line at even strength with Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat, as well as on the top power-play unit with these two. They host the Edmonton Oilers, who will be without Connor McDavid this evening -- which makes this matchup even more intriguing.
Andre Burakovsky, Winger, Colorado Avalanche
FanDuel Price: $5,100
The even strength linemates for Andre Burakovsky are not the greatest in J.T. Compher and Valeri Nichushkin, but he will play on the Colorado Avalanche's top power-play unit with Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen -- which is fantastic. This power play has some very potent offensive players but converts on just 19.4 percent of their opportunities, which ranks 19th in the NHL.
The matchup is somewhat difficult against the elite Washington Capitals. It is unclear who will be between the pipes for the Capitals tonight, but the matchup is much more intriguing if we get Braden Holtby. This has been a career-year for Burakovsky, who has already set or will set career-highs across all of the most important offensive categories.
Miro Heiskanen, Defense, Dallas Stars
FanDuel Price: $4,400
It doesn't make much sense to me that the Dallas Stars roll with John Klingberg on the top power-play unit more often than not when Miro Heiskanen is a much more dynamic player. Heiskanen is great because he produces across the board. Not only does he have 29 points in 55 games, his 135 shots (2.45 per game) and 70 blocks (1.27 per game) are great too.
Heiskanen is the second-highest point-per-dollar defensemen tonight, as per our projections, which further amplifies this play. The Stars visit the Toronto Maple Leafs, a good team, but one that gives up plenty of offensive chances against. Toronto allows 3.25 goals against per game, which is the seventh-most in the NHL, and the most among all teams currently sitting in a playoff spot.
Adam Fox, Defense, New York Rangers
FanDuel Price: $3,700
The New York Rangers' rookie started off slow with just 2 points and 12 shots in his first 10 games in the NHL in the month of October. However, he really started getting things going in November, with 12 points in 15 games and 34 shots on goal.
He has been on and off the power play this season, and he's expected to play on the team's second power-play unit tonight. The Rangers are scoring at a 23.9 percent clip with the man advantage, which is good for sixth in the NHL.
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.