Here are the top against-the-grain selections for Saturday's 10-game slate.
D Matt Niskanan, Capitals (at Rangers)
John Carlson is the rock on Washington's blueline, but he's been out of action since Boxing Day with an undisclosed injury. Niskanen has been doing his best Carlson impression of late, with four assists, 12 blocks and 11 shots on goal in his last five games, while playing between 25 and 32 minutes a night.
A matchup against the Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist may scare away prospective DFS owners, but the Capitals pumped five goals past King Henrik in a 7-3 December win in New York. Given Niskanen's heavy workload and top power play unit duties, he should contribute enough to return value on his mid-range price in one of Saturday's early games.
C Logan Couture, Sharks (vs. Leafs)
Couture's had a star-crossed season, with two separate injuries combining to limit him to eight games thus far. He's played three games since returning from his latest setback, with two assists and seven shots on goal to show for his efforts.
While still far from a bargain, his price has plummeted from its season-opening level, and he's yet to score, so he's likely to be low-owned until his game gets back on track. That could well be Saturday, with the up-and-down Leafs in town, who San Jose beat 5-4 in Toronto in mid-December.
W Brad Marchand, Bruins (at Senators)
After serving a three-game suspension for clipping Ottawa's Mark Borowiecki, Marchand is eligible to return Saturday against those same Senators. If your DFS game of choice counts penalty minutes, Marchand could be a shrewd selection, as hockey code dictates that he'll likely have to atone for his actions in the form of a physical altercation.
Even if not, Marchand is still on pace for a career-best 59 points, thanks to 15 goals and 11 assists in 34 games. He should assume his regular top-six role against a Senators team that has allowed the fifth-most goals overall, as well as the second-most power play markers.
G Cam Ward, Hurricanes (at Blue Jackets)
Ward will get the nod again on the second night of a home-and-home series after backstopping the Hurricanes to a 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets in Carolina.
While the veteran has conceded one goal in three of his last four starts, his selection here is primarily an indictment of Columbus' goaltending situation, which, due to injuries to Sergei Bobrovsky and Curtis McElhinney, is down to either Anton Forsberg or Joonas Korpisalo. Both reserve netminders are a combined 2-6-0 this season, increasing the Hurricanes' (and Ward's) chances of leaving Ohio victorious.
