What is a waiver watch? It’s when someone who signed up to participate in an event, then decides that they can no longer participate due to injury or health reasons.
The “waiver wire” is a website that tracks the waivers and transactions of all NCAA football programs. The site allows users to search for players and teams, and even compare schools.
Every week, we’ll scour the waiver wire for under-the-radar players that may aid your team, whether you play dynasty or redraft, and we’ll also throw in some DFS advice. Finally, we’ll take a look at some past go-to fantasy assets that may be overpriced – either in the short or long term – for various reasons.
Forwards
Buffalo Sabres’ Tage Thompson (12.0 percent): Thompson now seems to be the player the Blues envisioned when they selected him 26th overall in 2016. Even before putting up some great scoring stats, the towering 24-year-old striker seemed to be playing at a higher level than he had been in his previous seasons (mostly in Buffalo). The stats are there now, thanks to Victor Olofsson and Jeff Skinner, with eight goals in November alone. Grab him in deeper leagues before other managers figure out what you’re doing. This season, keep an eye on the attacking tandem of Olofsson and Thompson.
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Michael Bunting (6.1 percent), LW, Toronto Maple Leafs: The former Coyote has two goals and four assists (plus-five) in four games for the NHL’s hottest club, playing on a top unit alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Following a slow start in his new hockey digs, the Toronto native looks to be fitting in well among two of the finest in the game. Bunting will be a valuable contributor on the No. 1 line and on the secondary power play in most ESPN.com medium/deep leagues.
New Jersey Devils’ Andreas Johnsson (4.8 percent): Following linemates Dawson Mercer and Jesper Bratt’s previous appearances, Johnsson deserves his own spotlight as a fantasy asset in the Waiver Watch slot. It’s impossible to overlook a total of three goals and three assists in two recent games. More significantly, the Devils’ greatest forward trio this season has been Johnsson, Mercer, and Bratt, and it’s unlikely to be broken up even when Jack Hughes returns (as early as this week). Johnsson, who had 20 goals and 23 assists in 73 games with the Maple Leafs three years ago, deserves more fantasy attention in deeper fantasy competition in his present position. Also, look into Hughes’ availability in all league sizes. Before sustaining a shoulder injury a game and a half in, the youthful center had two goals and an assist.
Brandon Hagel (1.7 percent), Chicago Blackhawks, LW/RW: With seven goals this season, the 23-year-old is second only to Alex DeBrincat for the Blackhawks, one more than Patrick Kane. Hagel seemed to have established his place among Chicago’s top-six after scoring in three consecutive games until Sunday’s shutout defeat to the Sharks. On a line alongside Jonathan Toews, the second-year winger is also getting time on the power play for the Blackhawks. In deeper fantasy competition, Hagel is at the very least deserving of a spot on the watch list.
C Aliaksei Protas (0.2%), Washington Capitals: In two games, the youngster had a goal and two assists while skating on a forward line alongside his heroes Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. While Protas is expected to be pushed out of that top place once the other Capitals recover to health, if not outright sent back to Hershey in the meantime, he presents as an out-of-the-box fantasy item. Especially in Daily Fantasy leagues. Before investing your DFS salary money, make sure the 20-year-old keeps that top line.
2 Related
Kevin Fiala, Minnesota Wild, C/RW (63.4%): Even though the quick winger is rostered in two-thirds of ESPN.com leagues, it’s still worth checking his availability status just in case. Fiala has three goals on 69 shots while contributing 12 assists – six in his last seven games. This equates to an uncharacteristically low 4.3 percent shooting success percentage. Which means the 25-year-old – one of the game’s most streaky characters – is set to blow up. At his two full seasons in Minnesota, Fiala shot 12.7 percent on average. The objectives will appear.
Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues (12.3%); Josh Anderson, RW, Montreal Canadiens (49.6%); Ryan Johansen, C, Nashville Predators (17.8 percent )
Defenders
New York Rangers’ Ryan Lindgren (1.6 percent): Week by week, I’m growing to appreciate the Rangers’ top-pairing defender. Lindgren is quietly developing into an all-around valued commodity, leading New York’s blue line in blocked shots and tied with teammate Adam Fox at plus-eight. While he won’t put up the most eye-catching statistics on offense, Lindgren excels in other areas and should be considered in deeper leagues with non-scoring categories. Since Nov. 8, the 23-year-old has averaged 1.8 fantasy points per match in ESPN’s standard game, indicating that he’s still learning and growing. Not bad for a defender that has a lot of options.
Calgary Flames’ Noah Hanifin is also worth mentioning (6.9 percent )
Goaltenders
San Jose Sharks’ James Reimer (23.2 percent): Since Oct. 30, he’s started 10 of San Jose’s 14 games, including the past four. With the exception of one awful game against his previous team in Toronto, he’s been solid to exceptional in all of his appearances. With 4.0 fantasy points per game, he’s tied with Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy. Despite this, Adin Hill is rostered in 10% more ESPN.com leagues. I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Give Reimer a long, serious look if you require quality netminding, especially right now. This week, the Sharks will play the Devils, Islanders, Rangers, and Blue Jackets.
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Calgary Flames’ Dan Vladar (7.0 percent): In relief of Jacob Markstrom, the Flames’ other goaltender is expected to start one of the team’s four games this week, either Thursday’s game against the Kings or Friday’s game against the Ducks. Vladar has been outstanding when called upon, although seldom, with a 4-0-1 record and two recent shutouts. Whether he starts in Anaheim or Los Angeles, Calgary’s No. 2 is a bright option in Daily Fantasy.
Mikko Koskinen of the Edmonton Oilers is also worth mentioning (50.3 percent )
Expectations were lowered
Elias Pettersson (94.3 percent), C, Vancouver Canucks: How long do we have to wait for Pettersen to find his stride again? Is it going to be another week? Two? Until Travis Green is (very certainly) shown the door? The fifth-overall draft pick (2017) hasn’t looked like himself – and not only as a force on offense, according to reports. Pettersen, who was relegated to the third line, played all 13 minutes in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Boston. Since November 9, he has one assist and 0 goals. Wait it out if you have more bench spaces than you need. If not, I’d wait until this week to see how Pettersen performs against Montreal, Ottawa, and Pittsburgh, and then re-evaluate. On the plus side, the talented forward is shooting just 5.1 percent, which is significantly below his normal rate, suggesting that a correction is in order.
Kevin Shattenkirk, Anaheim Ducks defenseman (78.7 percent )
Watch This Video-
The “top 10 waiver wire pickups” is a list of the top 10 players who are available on waivers and should be picked up.
Related Tags
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