Finding value defensemen in daily fantasy
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With most successful daily fantasy hockey owners typically paying up at for a goaltender and spending on several top forwards in order to maximize scoring potential, the defense position often becomes an area to cut salary.
With so few defenders putting up consistent points - only four defensemen ranked in the top 35 last season - it's often not worth the risk to for the small chance of hitting on a defender to produce multiple points on a given night.
Even with this strategy in mind, finding the proper cheap defenseman is critical. Here are some things to look for when mining value at the position:
Target the cheaper half of a top pairing
Here are the top five defensemen in points from the 2015-16 season and the points produced by their most common partner:
| D1 | P | D2 | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erik Karlsson | 82 | Marc Methot | 12 |
| Brent Burns | 75 | Paul Martin | 20 |
| Kris Letang | 67 | Olli Maatta | 19 |
| Roman Josi | 61 | Shea Weber | 51 |
| John Klingberg | 58 | Alex Goligoski | 37 |
The first catch here is these pairings didn't always remain intact on the power play. Karlsson, for example, was typically the lone defender on an Ottawa Senators man advantage unit featuring four forwards. Second, Josi and Weber are near equal talents, representing one of the league's best duos.
Players like Methot, Martin and Maatta are routinely priced near the minimum, despite ample ice time alongside a phenomenal talent. They're able to provide a steady floor with shots on goal and blocked shots, and can pick up the occasional point in the event of a high-scoring outing from their team.
Look for high floors
Colorado Avalanche D Erik Johnson was the lone defender to rank within the top 33 in shots on goal yet fail to tally more than 30 points. Alternatively, there were 15 defensemen from the top-40 leaders in blocked shots to score at least 30 points. Only three failed to record at least 10 points.
Blocked shots and shots on goal can be direct results of ice time. Log enough minutes alongside the right players, in the right matchups, and one can luck into the occasional point. Use Offensive Zone Start and Finish numbers, courtesy of BehindTheNet.ca to find those players being used in or forcing their way into offensive situations while on the ice.
Get exposure to special teams
Young defensemen who may be considered defensive liabilities will tend to see the bulk of their playing time come with the man advantage. Without a focus on defense, they're able to show their offensive skill set, without being exposed as a poor defender and harming their team.
Another example is in Anaheim Ducks D Cam Fowler. A veteran of six NHL seasons, he has developed primarily into a defense-first player. He has just one 40-point season, coming in his rookie campaign of 2010-11. In 69 games last season, he tallied a full-season career low of 28 points. Seventeen of those points came while on the power-play.
His 11 even-strength points were few enough to keep his salary routinely low, but he was able to boost his production at 5v4. The added bonus here, is most DFS sites count power-play points as bonuses, on top of already scoring the goal or assists.