NHL 2017/18 Week 15 Fantasy Hockey Report

This is another crazy bye week, so to help I'm only recommending adding players who are not on bye this week (not counting Sell High, Buy Low). San Jose plays the most games with 5, so there's a few Sharks on this list.

Players to watch, all formats:

1) Danton Heinen, BOS, (40% Yahoo ownership): Boston has 4 games this week, and Heinen has scored 14 PTS in his last 12 GP and also gets Power Play time. I had no idea who this guy was when the season started, but he’s made a few appearances on my weekly fantasy report. He might be good.

2) Jonathon Bernier, COL, (26% Yahoo ownership): I’m generally a Bernier skeptic, but he’s been red hot lately. Over his last 5 GP he’s got 5 Wins with a 1.33 GAA and .960 SV%. If your #1 starter is on a bye and you need a guy, this is the best option that’s widely available.

3) Joe Thornton, SJ, (40% Yahoo ownership): Jumbo is by no means the hottest player available right now, but he does play 5 games in a week of many byes and has scored 4 PTS in his last 6 GP. Maybe you’re not keeping him for the rest of the season, but he’s got value now.

4) Matt Barzal, NYI, (66% Yahoo ownership): Barzal should be added in all standard leagues. If he’s still available in yours, add him right away. This is a good week to do it with the Islanders playing 4 games. The kid has scored 16 PTS in his last 12 GP and is my pick for rookie of the year.

5) Ivan Provorov, PHI, (60% Yahoo ownership): After a scoring slump in December, the Russian defenseman has been hot in the new year, scoring 7 PTS in his last 5 GP. He gets a ton of ice time and might be a solid second half producer.

Going Deep: players owned in 10% of leagues or less:

1) Jake DeBrusk, BOS, (4% Yahoo ownership): The rookie has 9 PTS in his last 12 GP and is certainly someone to keep an eye on for the rest of this season and beyond. He’s useful this week while Boston plays 4 games and is someone you can consider holding onto in deeper formats.

2) Alex Kerfoot, COL, (8% Yahoo ownership): Kerfoot is still only getting 3^rd line minutes, but he’s making the most of his limited opportunity, scoring 8 PTS in his last 10 GP. He’s a talented offensive player who will certainly be on a few “sleeper” lists heading into next season.

3) Timo Meier, SJ, (3% Yahoo ownership): There are players under 10% ownership who have been hotter than Meier, but he’s got by far the best schedule this week and has scored 3 PTS in his last 6 GP. He also racks up plenty of Shots and Hits if you play those categories.

4) Nikita Zadorov, COL, (6% Yahoo ownership): He’s getting a ton of playing time in Colorado, who are shockingly better than anyone expected. There are a few players who are cashing in on the success of Nathan MacKinnon, and Zadorov is one of them, scoring 3 PTS in his last 5 GP.

5) Anthony Beauvillier, NYI, (2% Yahoo ownership): Recently recalled from the minors, Beauvillier already has 4 PTS in 2 GP since being put on a line with Barzal and Eberle. He may very well be a risk to get sent down again, but he’s at least a good bye week plug while he’s getting this opportunity.

The 1%: Top 3 Players to Add that are 1% Owned or Less

1) Chris Tierney, SJ: In this bye week themed Fantasy Report, I’ve been leaning heavily on the Sharks who play the most games. Tierney has been getting 2^nd line minutes and has produced 4 PTS in his last 6 GP.

2) Joonas Donskoi, SJ: He’s got a great schedule this week and has scored 4 PTS in his last 6 GP. I already added him in my 18-team league earlier today.

3) Jordan Weal, Phi: I’m delaying posting this report until the new week starts at midnight because I don’t want anyone else in my league to read this and add him before I can. Philly has 4 games this week and Weal has 4 PTS in his last 5 GP. I’m not sure if I’ll be holding on to him beyond this week, but certainly as a bye week replacement he’s got value right now in deep leagues.

Sell High:

1) Mark Stone, OTT, (87% Yahoo ownership): It’s been a wasted season in Ottawa, but one of the bright spots has been Stone, who has scored 15 PTS in his last 12 GP. The Senators won’t have much to play for in March and may try to get some prospects into the line-up. There may be no better time than right now to sell Stone.

2) Reilly Smith, LV, (56% Yahoo ownership): He’s been scoring at better than a point per game clip for over a month. Maybe he really is this good, or maybe his chariot will turn back into a Pumpkin at midnight, tough to say for sure. All I know is that if I owned him, I’d be packaging him into trade offers.

3) Jonathan Marchessault, LV, (82% Yahoo ownership): This is not the first time that Marchessault has appeared in “Sell High” this season. His 15 PTS in his last 11 GP has helped his ownership % skyrocket. Maybe I’m just a cynical asshole, but if I owned him I’d be trying to sell him.

Buy Low:

1) TJ Oshie, WSH, (89% Yahoo ownership): He returned from injury 11 games ago and has scored 4 PTS. He’s over the age of 30 now, which puts him at risk for a sudden and permanent decline in production. It could be now, it could be a few years from now. In the short term you might be able to get him at a discount.

2) Mika Zibanejad, NYR, (49% Yahoo ownership): He’s already had a concussion this season and has just 3 PTS in his last 10 GP. He’s a better player than that and somebody whom I would target in a trade acquisition.

3) Brendan Gallagher, MTL, (48% Yahoo ownership): Gallagher’s pace over the last 30 days with 4 PTS in his last 11 GP is down from his production earlier in the season. He’ll get you a ton of shots on goal, and his recent slump means you might be able to get him at a discount.

Be concerned:

1) Jake Guentzel, PIT, (67% Yahoo ownership): That ownership level is too high for a guy with 2 PTS in his last 11 GP. This is turning into a very disappointing season for the kid who has been fantastic the last 2 playoffs. You may drop him in standard leagues. This slump probably won’t be permanent, but it’s been lingering long enough to be concerned in shallow formats.

2) Nazem Kadri, TOR, (66% Yahoo ownership): This is not Naz’s first appearance in “Be Concerned”. 1 point in his last 10 GP does not justify 66% ownership, and this slump has been lingering for over a month. You can safely drop him in all standard leagues.

3) Brent Seabrook, CHI, (51% Yahoo ownership): You can drop Brent Seabrook in anything shallower than a 16-team league. This is not Seabrook’s first appearance in “Be Concerned”, as I was telling you to drop him in standard leagues several weeks ago and it’s not getting any better. He’s now been a healthy scratch and is not producing any offense.