NHL

3 NHL FanDuel Values to Target on 2/17/21

Chris Wassel  —  @ChrisWasselDFS Feb 17th, 2021
With four Wednesday night games on the main slate, values still abound. So, who can we trust in NHL DFS?

Spending lower in any daily fantasy lineup is a way to incorporate some diversity into your roster. In NHL DFS, there is typically more value in this strategy but also a good deal more risk. This is especially true on tonight's slate, where there are lots of lower-salaried plays. Plugging in these options will afford you more chances to play some studs, as well.

Wednesday night has just four games overall on the slate. Let's hunt for some value!

Jason Spezza, Center, Toronto Maple Leafs

FanDuel Salary: $3,500

Center is a challenging position on Wednesday night. Jason Spezza provides value because of his ability on the power-play and little else. That is the blunt way to look at this. Because he typically plays 10 minutes a night, his chances are minimalized. If Toronto does not draw many penalties, little is heard from Spezza.

The biggest risk is the chance of a "bagel." That has occurred once in the last week. On the other hand, if the "Battle Of Ontario" turns into a higher-scoring affair, as it did on Monday, then Spezza carries some value. Penalties and power plays are likely, and Spezza did cash in with an assist and a couple of scoring chances on Monday.

Chris Tierney ($3,500) might be a bottom-six value play from the Ottawa Senators if he continues to see more shifts on the first line at even strength.

Vladimir Namestnikov, Wing, Detroit Red Wings

FanDuel Salary: $3,600

The Detroit Red Wings are not a very good team, but with injuries and poor play comes value and lower-salaried players. Namestikov's ability to generate a few chances off next to nothing helps. However, he is seeing middle-six minutes and putting up a solid floor. He has 15 shots in the previous six games and has nine blocked shots, too.

Namestnikov has learned to battle better for loose pucks and chase down dump-ins. Detroit does not have the speed or offensive ability that Tampa Bay had, nor linemates the caliber of Steven Stamkos or Nikita Kucherov. On the other hand, the winger learning some humility has served him well. He can still create and use body positioning to generate scoring chances.

Chicago is a team that will allow goals and shots. Namestnikov excels at shots and blocked shots. For his salary, if he hits three shots and two blocked shots, that is close enough to value. Mattias Janmark ($3,700) is another speedy type of winger who can create chances versus Detroit and could be a viable alternative.

Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, Edmonton Oilers

FanDuel Salary: $3,600

The defensive ideal is to look at lower-salaried players with reasonable matchup potential. Evan Bouchard fits the bill, and on Monday, he utilized his shot to the tune of 10-plus shot attempts and eight shots on goal. He does have at least two shots in every one of his starts this season and at least five shot attempts on net.

With the smaller slate and fewer alternatives, Bouchard's floor at this tier is excellent. Now, if one wants a little more experience, there is Derek Forbort ($3,600) from the Winnipeg Jets, who will block a few more shots (five on Monday) and had three shots on the goal as well.

Chris Wassel is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Chris Wassel also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username chriswassel. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.