Getting value from your defensemen is always important in daily fantasy lineups, but it gets harder with fewer and fewer teams playing. There are still some great value options to take advantage of, so you can keep some salary for those big guns on offense. This betting guide offers some of the best options that won’t break the bank in Wednesday’s first-round games.
Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
Jaccob Slavin was arguably the Hurricanes’ best player in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins. He lit up the Bruins to the tune of two goals and six assists, and despite that, is still decently priced on multiple platforms. Slavin is certainly going to keep getting loads of minutes and should be another great option against the Rangers in the second round.
Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Slavin also blocks a ton of shots and gets minutes on the power play. He averaged north of 23 minutes per game against the Rangers during the regular season, and that number should only go up in the playoffs. Slavin was great in the first round, scoring in every game but Game 4. Take advantage of his modest price tag for Game 1.
Ryan Lindgren, New York Rangers
Ryan Lindgren isn’t the first name you think of when you’re looking for offensive players on the blue line. However, he comes at a cheap price, and he found a way to score some quality fantasy points in the Rangers’ first-round series. Lindgren scored just 15 points in the regular season but notched a goal and an assist in the first round despite playing in just four games in the series.
Lindgren’s value isn’t in his points, though. He’s usually good for multiple blocked shots, and he slings the puck at the net. He had at least three shots on goal four times against the Penguins and plays a ton of minutes. Lindgren is a good option to consider when you’re running out of salary and need to plug in a guy you know will get you decent points.
Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
Even though scoring was difficult for both teams in the first-round series between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars, Rasmus Andersson still managed to put up some decent fantasy point totals. He was especially effective over the last four games of the series, where he upped his involvement in the offensive zone while maintaining his penchant for blocked shots.
Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Andersson managed a goal and an assist in the series, but he also blocked eight shots. That number would have been higher had he not been bounced from Game 1 for his brawl with John Klingberg. Against the Edmonton Oilers, the Flames are certain to face more shots than they did against the Stars, meaning Andersson’s block numbers will go up. He also runs the point on the power play, making him a good play in what should be a high-scoring series.
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The post Fantasy Corner: Defenseman Picks for Daily Fantasy – 05/18/2022 appeared first on THWBets from The Hockey Writers.