Here are the defensemen value rankings for Tuesday, January 5's eight-game slate:
Top Options
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Kris Letang (PIT) | vs. CHI | 10 |
| Karl Alzner (WAS) | at BOS | 9 |
| Kris Russell (CGY) | vs. TB | 8 |
| Mark Giordano (CGY) | vs. TB | 8 |
Letang, like most of the Penguins' skaters, had slow start to the season but is finally scoring at a clip DFS players expect. He has nine points in his last eight games, with a goal and five assists coming while quarterbacking Pittsburgh's once-stagnant power play.
Alzner and Russell are off the board picks, but on a slate where many of the blueliners are slumping, face tough goaltending or are overpriced, these two cheap shot-blockers only need to register an assist to break even.
Best of the Rest
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Duncan Keith (CHI) | at PIT | 7 |
| Ryan Suter (MIN) | at CLB | 7 |
| Dan Boyle (NYR) | vs. DAL | 6 |
| Roman Josi (NAS) | vs. WPG | 6 |
| Shayne Gostisbehere (PHI) | vs. MTL | 6 |
Keith has three goals and six assists with 2.2 shots per game over his last 10; the only thing standing in his way is Marc-Andre Fleury, who was fantastic in his first game back from injury.
Boyle is on a minor hot-streak and can be had for a very modest salary figure.
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Shea Weber (NAS) | vs. WPG | 5 |
| P.K. Subban (MTL) | at PHI | 5 |
| Jack Johnson (CLB) | vs. MIN | 5 |
| Aaron Ekblad (FLA) | at BUF | 4 |
| Keith Yandle (NYR) | vs. DAL | 4 |
| Victor Hedman (TB) | at CGY | 4 |
These players are all priced with little room for added value; they should all come close to their break-even points. For a player like Hedman, his floor and ceiling are both low, but at least they match his salary hold
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Brent Seabrook (CHI) | at PIT | 3 |
| John Klingberg (DAL) | at NYR | 3 |
| Torey Krug (BOS) | vs. WAS | 3 |
| Rasmus Ristolainen (BUF) | vs. FLA | 2 |
| Zdeno Chara (BOS) | vs. WAS | 2 |
| Dustin Byfuglien (WPG) | at NAS | 1 |
These are the big names to avoid. Klingberg has been good all season and that has forced his salary to trend upwards; even facing a struggling Henrik Lundqvist, he should be faded given his high DFS salary. Boston's blueliners are struggling and that should continue against the red-hot goal-tending of Braden Holtby.
