DFS: Thursday's Defenseman Value Rankings
Here are theScore's defensemen value rankings for Thursday, October 22:
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Dumba (MIN) | vs CLB | Low |
| 2 | Marc-Edouard Vlasic (SJ) | vs LA | Low |
| 3 | Ryan Suter (MIN) | vs CLB | Low |
| 4 | Brent Burns (SJ) | vs LA | Low |
| 5 | Ian Cole (PIT) | vs DAL | Low |
| 6 | Erik Karlsson (OTT) | vs NJ | Low |
| 7 | David Savard (CLB) | at MIN | Low |
Columbus has been flailing like a kite in a tornado. Its goaltender might have the yips and management fired coach Todd Richards and replaced him with the mercurial John Tortorella just seven games into the season. This is a great opportunity for a stack against the Blue Jackets. Dumba brings the most value as a cheap second-line defensemen who sees some power-play action.
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Adam Larsson (NJ) | at OTT | Medium |
| 9 | Kris Letang (PIT) | vs DAL | Medium |
| 10 | Jack Johnson (CLB) | at MIN | Medium |
| 11 | John Carlson (WAS) | at VAN | Medium |
| 12 | Matt Niskanen (WAS) | at VAN | Medium |
| 13 | Hampus Lindholm (ANA) | at NAS | Medium |
| 14 | Brian Campbell (FLA) | at CHI | Medium |
| 15 | Roman Josi (NAS) | vs ANA | Medium |
| 16 | Alexander Edler (VAN) | vs WAS | Medium |
| 17 | Aaron Ekblad (FLA) | at CHI | Medium |
| 18 | Oliver Ekman-Larsson (ARI) | at NYR | Medium |
| 20 | Viktor Svedberg (CHI) | vs FLA | Medium |
| 21 | Chris Tanev (VAN) | vs FLA | Medium |
| 22 | Andy Greene (NJ) | at OTT | Medium |
| 23 | Shea Weber (NAS) | vs ANA | Medium |
| 24 | Alex Goligoski (DAL) | at PIT | Medium |
| 25 | Patrick Wiercioch (OTT) | vs ARI | Medium |
| 26 | Michael Stone (ARI) | at NYR | Medium |
| 27 | Jared Spurgeon (MIN) | vs CLB | Medium |
There isn't a ton of awful goaltending to target, so feel free to mix in some cheaper, low-ceiling options and save your salary for forwards. Larsson and Greene in New Jersey haven't lit up the score sheet but neither will break the bank; Ottawa has allowed the 11th-most goals per game so far this season.
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Keith Yandle (NYR) | vs ARI | High |
| 29 | Sami Vatanen (ANA) | at NAS | High |
| 30 | Brooks Orpik (WAS) | at VAN | High |
| 31 | Brent Seabrook (CHI) | vs FLA | High |
| 32 | John Klingberg (DAL) | at PIT | High |
| 33 | Jake Muzzin (LA) | at SJ | High |
| 34 | Ryan McDonagh (NYR) | vs ARI | High |
| 35 | Drew Doughty (LA) | at SJ | High |
If not for Columbus, the situation in Los Angeles would look downright abominable. The Kings are allowing 4.2 goals per game, second only to the Blue Jackets. Doughty and Muzzin have been high-priced DFS duds so far - possibly because they haven't kept the puck out of their own end.