DRAFT is back for another season of quick and exciting daily fantasy action. Their DFS platform offers poolies with a chance to participate in a format that most of us have grown very accustomed to over the years. You can compete in a live snake draft in which the participants take a player with each pick. Unlike other DFS games, this gives you the opportunity to use your knowledge to craft a team that no one else will have because the players you select cannot be chosen by your competition.
The draft is quick as you are allotted just 30 seconds per pick and you take five players. Your team is comprised of three forwards, a defenseman and a goalie.
Your strategy can be dictated by the positions being selected ahead of you. For instance, if you are going last and everyone else has a goaltender then you can wait until your last pick to make that selection. Of course, selecting players going up against weaker competition or players who are riding hot streaks are always popular strategies as well.
Remember, there are new pools available to play in but the players in my rankings will fall off the table as soon as the puck drops in their respective game.
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FORWARDS
3. Patrick Kane
9. Mitch Marner
10. Braydon Point
11. John Tavares
12. Steven Stamkos
15. Mark Scheifele
16. Blake Wheeler
17. Mark Stone
19. Alex DeBrincat
20. Kyle Connor
21. Sean Monahan
22. Elias Lindholm
23. Matthew Tkachuk
24. Mika Zibanejad
This is another night when there are so many good forwards available (especially in three and four team pools) that you can wait and take the best defenseman and goaltender. The usual suspects should be taken off first as Kucherov, McDavid, Kane and Draisaitl are the top four scorers in the NHL. McDavid had an average game Saturday and could be upset with himself and have something to prove. There is no wrong in going after line combinations like the ones in Tampa Bay, Chicago, Toronto, Calgary etc. Barkov and Huberdeau are also a high scoring duo with the Panthers.
DEFENSEMEN
3. John Carlson
6. Tyson Barrie
8. Keith Yandle
There are some nice defensemen at the top of the rankings including Giordano and Rielly who should finish in the top-three in Norris Trophy voting. Carlsson and Gustafsson are two of the best scoring defensemen in the NHL while Byfuglien is also a scorer but has missed half a season due to injuries.
GOALTENDERS
1. Vasilevskiy
4. Robin Lehner
Check Rotoworld all day for updates as far as who is starting in goal for each team. Vasilevskiy has been a stud all season and should easily win the Vezina despite missing a month of action. He should likely go first overall, but make sure he is starting and not Louis Domingue. Holtby and Rittich should be the next off the board while Lehner has a tough matchup against the struggling but dangerous Maple Leafs.
NHL Plays will look at some players to consider adding while building your lineups. Remember to check back on this page later in the day for confirmations on starting goalies and keep an eye on Rotoworld’s daily blurbs for all your fantasy hockey needs.
Keep in mind that FanDuel allows you to roster nine players (2C, 4W, 2D, 1G) with a salary cap of $55,000, while DraftKings has a cap of $50,000 for nine players (2C, 3W, 2D, 1G, 1UT).la
David Rittich G (Calgary) - $8,200 FanDuel, $8,300 DraftKings
Dustin Byfuglien D (Winnipeg) - $5,400 FanDuel, $6,100 DraftKings
Thomas Chabot D (Ottawa) - $5,200 FanDuel, $5,500 DraftKings
Brayden Point C (Tampa Bay) - $7,700 FanDuel, $6,800 DraftKings
Mika Zibanejad C (New York Rangers) - $7,000 FanDuel, $6,600 DraftKings
Alex DeBrincat W (Chicago) - $6,800 FanDuel, $5,900 DraftKings
Kyle Connor W (Winnipeg) - $6,400 FanDuel, $6,800 DraftKings
Matthew Tkachuk C (Calgary) - $6,300 FanDuel, $6,000 DraftKings
The Rittich pick could be a bit risky as the Flames clinched the division and conference championship Sunday but he is a nice price for the money. Byfuglien and Chabot make a strong blueline with the Jets thrilled that they have their big defenseman back before the playoffs. Point and Zibanejad are having career years. DeBrincat has 42 goals this season and is a bargain in both FanDuel and DraftKings. Connor and Tkachuk are top wingers as well.
