DFS: Counterattack - Friday's Top Contrarian Plays

There are only five games on Friday's schedule so there is not a deep contrarian pool as other nights.

Here's a look at the top contrarian options for use in GPPs:

G: Jonathan Bernier, Maple Leafs (vs. Red Wings)

The goalie pool on Friday's slate is relatively thin with only 10 starters. In Bernier you get a cheap and low-owned goalie, a home team goalie, and what should be a motivated player.

Bernier's first start on Wednesday opened horribly, as he allowed the first shot to find twine - but he settled in after that, finishing with 27 saves on 29 shots.

Leafs coach Mike Babcock has already tabbed Bernier to start on Friday, allowing Bernier one more early opportunity to make a good impression.

Last year against Detroit, Bernier was 2-0-1 with an outstanding .966 save percentage and a minuscule 0.98 goals-against average. With a thin goalie pool and a GPP strategy in mind, Bernier is worth consideration.

C: Ryan Johansen, Blue Jackets (at Rangers)

Johansen goes up against the Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist, which will scare some owners away. However, if you want to win a GPP game, you are going to have to take some risks.

Johansen is the center in Columbus' new first line with wingers Brandon Saad and Nick Foligno. This line is expected to be Columbus' main offensive provider - and through the preseason it filled that role impressively. Johansen has put up two very productive seasons with the Jackets - compiling 134 points in that span - and had 12 points in just four preseason games.

W: Gustav Nyquist, Red Wings (at Maple Leafs)

Nyquist is another product of the great system in Detroit. He remains a relative unknown but he is a consistent, smart, two-way player that can play in any situation.

Nyquist had 48 points in 57 games in 2013-14 and 54 points in 82 games in 2014-15. For his career, he has a nearly equal goal to assist ratio of 59:56.

Nyquist should will also see power-play time, a category incentivized on some DFS sites. In 2014-15, Nyquist totalled 24 power play points on 14 goals and 10 assists.

Nyquist may be more of a cash game player because of his consistent play but if he can pot a goal or maybe a few assists, he is a solid pick in any format.

D: Andy Greene, Devils (at Jets)

Greene is not a top offensive defenseman but he does fulfill a category in DFS hockey that rewards partial points: blocked shots. Greene finished 10th in the league with 172 blocks last year.

Greene also plays on the top defense pairing in New Jersey and averages 20+ minutes of ice time a night, which gives him a good opportunity of producing actual points and fantasy points. Greene has put up 32 and 22 points in the past two seasons, respectively, so he does have some offensive capabilities.