NHL Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 8/26/20
A good chunk of you played daily fantasy football this year, and I'd be willing to bet a significant portion of you have also tried out daily fantasy basketball and baseball. But hockey? Hockey?
It's time to give it a try over on FanDuel because it's a ton of fun.
Our analysis and projections can help you win. To help, let's take a look at a goalie, some high-priced skaters, and lower-priced players to target for today's slate.
Goalie to Target
Pavel Francouz ($7,800): The Colorado Avalanche are down 0-2 in their series against the Dallas Stars, and that has led to Francouz coming in as one of the cheaper options at goalie. Finding all the savings you can is very important on a small three-game slate, when we have plenty of higher-priced skaters we want to pay up for. Despite being one of the cheaper goalies, Francouz and the Avalanche come in as -140 favorites, which makes them the largest favorites on the slate.
The past two games haven't been friendly for Francouz, who let in four goals in Game 2, and let in two goals in a relief effort during Game 1. Regardless of that, Francouz was able to post 22 and 18 saves during those two games, which is a solid floor to build on. Allow one fewer goal and come away with the win, and he would turn into the best point-per-dollar goalie on the slate.
High-Priced Skaters
Nathan MacKinnon ($8,800): MacKinnon's fantasy production over his recent stretch of games is the thing DFS players dream of -- paying up for the top star on the slate and getting everything you could ever ask for. Over his last three games, he has 20 shots, 5 goals, and 4 assists, which allowed him to produce 50.6, 41.6, and 33.8 FanDuel points in those games.
MacKinnon is the best fantasy option on the slate. That is not an opinion -- that is a fact-based statement on his recent performance. He is the lock of the slate and should be the number one option for any lineup you are making. He is on the first forward line for the Avalanche, along with the first power-play unit. Stacking either would also be a great idea. With the Avalanche down 0-2, expect them to turn up the offensive pressure even more in Game 3, giving more opportunities for MacKinnon.
Jamie Benn ($7,600): Benn sits on the top line and the top power-play unit for the Stars, who have posted five goals in each of the first two games versus the Avalanche. The Stars aren't normally known as an offensive powerhouse, but they have changed in some of their recent games, not only against the Avalanche, but also dating back to their series versus the Calgary Flames.
Benn has been producing along the way with eight points in eight games, along with two shots on goal or more in six of the eight games. Strong production from the Stars' top line should continue tonight.
Value Skaters
Jean-Gabriel Pageau ($4,800): JGP is seeing time on the third forward line for the New York Islanders but is up on the first power-play unit -- giving him a bit of upside. He comes in with two goals and seven shots in his last three games, along with four blocked shots in that time. Filling up the stat sheet is great to see from a depth player, who is now contributing more and more in the offensive zone.
Kevin Shattenkirk ($3,900): Shattenkirk is on a four-game point streak and still sitting under $4K. The Tampa Bay Lightning came away with the win last night to even up their series against the Boston Bruins, and they are back at it again tonight, meaning another chance for Shattenkirk to continue his production. He is seeing time on the second power-play unit and the first defensive pairing, giving him offensive upside we don't normally see from a player this cheap.
