Please note, these players were chosen early in the day, so make sure to check Rotoworld’s player news for any lineup changes, injuries and potential changes in the crease for starting goaltenders.
Additionally, it is worth reminding everyone 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, 1UTIL).
Editor’s Note: Drafting is only half the battle. Dominate all season long with our Season Pass! Use our NEW Lineup Adviser, get our Weekly and Rest-of-Season rankings and projections, track all of your players and more on your way to a championship! Click here for more!
[[ad:athena]]
Saturday night has a full slate with 13 games on the schedule.
Forwards:
Matt Duchene (NAS) – C - $6,800 (FanDuel), $4,900 (DraftKings)
I particularly like Duchene’s price on DraftKings, but I’d be in favor of taking him in either league. He seems to fit in well with Nashville and registered three assists in his debut.
Matthew Tkachuk (CAL) – W - $6,600 (FanDuel), $4,900 (DraftKings)
The Flames will be playing against Vancouver tonight and that matchup has typically been favorable for Tkachuk. He has five goals and 14 points in 14 career games against the Canucks.
Nino Niederreiter (CAR) – W - $5,600 (FanDuel), $3,700 (DraftKings)
Niederreiter had a quiet season opener, but I’m looking for him to have a pretty big season. He scored 14 goals and 30 points in 36 games in 2018-19 after being acquired by the Hurricanes, in part because he was playing a big role with them. That continued to be the case in the 2019-20 opener with him logging 17:46 minutes.
Nazem Kadri (COL) – C - $5,300 (FanDuel), $4,700 (DraftKings)
Although he had a quiet debut with Colorado, I think Kadri has a lot of potential as the Avalanche’s second-line center. There’s value there for Kadri at that price.
Lars Eller (WAS) – C - $4,800 (FanDuel), $3,700 (DraftKings)
As mentioned yesterday, Eller is playing in an increased role while Evgeny Kuznetsov serves a three-game suspension. So far Eller has three assists in two games during that stint.
Conor Sheary (BUF) – W - $4,700 (FanDuel), $4,000 (DraftKings)
Not an exciting player, but he is coming off a strong opener where he scored two goals, including the game-winner. Given how low his price is, I’m willing to take the chance that he’ll build off that.
James Neal (EDM) – W - $4,600 (FanDuel), $4,700 (DraftKings)
I’m cautiously optimistic about the change of scenery doing Neal a lot of good this year. I’m willing to bet on him at a bargain bin price, especially in FanDuel where his cost is particularly reasonable.
Bargain Bin: Brady Tkachuk (OTT) - $6,000 (FanDuel)/$5,100 (DraftKings), Derek Stepan (ARI) - $5,700 (FanDuel)/$4,000 (DraftKings), William Nylander (TOR) - $5,700 (FanDuel)/$5,500 (DraftKings), Jack Hughes (NJD) - $5,500 (FanDuel)/$4,500 (DraftKings), Jason Zucker (MIN) - $5,300 (FanDuel)/$4,400 (DraftKings), Erik Haula (CAR) - $4,700 (FanDuel)/$3,800 (DraftKings)
Defensemen:
Cam Fowler (ANA) – D - $5,200 (FanDuel), $3,800 (DraftKings)
Fowler was held back somewhat due to injury in 2018-19, recording just 23 points in 59 games. He has a shot at bouncing back in 2019-20 if he can stay healthy and was strong in the season opener with a goal.
Kevin Shattenkirk (TBL) – D - $5,100 (FanDuel), $3,700 (DraftKings)
Shattenkirk had a rough tenure with the Rangers, but things might be different in Tampa Bay. His Lightning debut was encouraging, not just because he scored a goal, but also because he logged 22:19 minutes of ice time.
Bargain Bin: Morgan Rielly (TOR) - $6,000 (FanDuel)/$6,100 (DraftKings), Jacob Trouba (NYR) - $5,800 (FanDuel)/$5,000 (DraftKings), Alexander Edler (VAN) - $5,200 (FanDuel)/$4,900 (DraftKings), Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) - $5,100 (FanDuel)/$4,300 (DraftKings)
Goaltenders:
John Gibson (ANA) – G - $7,800 (FanDuel), $7,600 (DraftKings)
Gibson is facing the Sharks at a time where they’re trying to find themselves. San Jose scored just two goals over its first two games.
Bargain Bin: Mike Smith (EDM) - $7,600 (FanDuel)/$7,900 (DraftKings), Alexandar Georgiev (NYR) - $7,500 (FanDuel)/$8,100 (DraftKings)
