Week 2 Risers and Fallers for Fantasy Hockey

October 20, 2014

Joe Hannon recaps some NHL forwards, defensemen and goalies rising and falling after Week 2. These players might be fantasy hockey waiver wire pickups or potential sleepers for your fantasy hockey teams.

What's up RotoBallers. Below is a quick rundown of NHL forwards, defensemen and goalies whose fantasy hockey values are rising and falling.

The rising players may not be ready to contribute quite yet, but they are worth watching as the NHL season unwinds. Some could be considered fantasy hockey sleepers, or waiver wire pickups depending on your league size.

As for those trending downward, it's probably time to drop them and make better use of those fantasy hockey roster spots.

NHL Players Rising for Fantasy Hockey

Tanner Pearson (F, LA) - 67% Owned

The line of Tyler Toffoli, Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson has been excellent for the Kings so far this season. Pearson has 4 G, 2 A, 4 PIM, and is a +6 in five games. The most impressive thing about his numbers is that he is averaging fewer than 13:00 of ice time per contest. His lack of playing time will likely scare owners away, but keep Tanner on your radar. If his production continues, his role on the team (and consequently his fantasy value) will expand significantly.

Nick Leddy (D, NYI) - 56% Owned

A new city means a whole new outlook for Nick Leddy. After spending the last few seasons as a member of the Blackhawks third pairing, Nick Leddy finds himself one of the Islanders top defensemen. Leddy has lit the lamp twice already this year, and he should have no problem besting his career high of 37 points. Nick's ice time and spot on the Islanders power play should grow as the season rolls on. At 23 years old, Leddy is still developing, and he could prove to be a very productive defenseman by season's end.

Alex Stalock (G, SJ) - 73% Owned

Antti Niemi holds the starting job for now, but Alex Stalock is certainly making a case for more playing time. Stalock earned the win with a 30-save shutout in his first appearance this season, and he followed it up with an impressive 42-save shootout loss to the Islanders for an encore. He slipped up in letting up 4 goals and having a terrible misplay of the puck vs. the Rangers on Sunday evening.  While Stalock may not be worth owning yet, if Niemi falters at all, he will be the man to own in San Jose.

NHL Players Falling for Fantasy Hockey

Chris Stewart (F, BUF) - 25% Owned

There was a time not too long ago when Chris Stewart was a fantasy owner's dream. It's hard to come by a player who can rack up penalty minutes while scoring points and maintaining a respectable average time-on-ice per game. Chris Stewart was that guy. However, his past few seasons have been somewhat of a disappointment. Not only is his scoring down, but the toughness and grit that was so noticeable early on in his career has almost vanished. In six games so far this season, Stewart is sporting a -3 rating, and he has 1 point and only 2 penalty minutes. It could be a long season in Buffalo.

Seth Jones (D, NSH) - 70% Owned

Seth Jones certainly has the talent to become a star in the NHL. However, at age 20, he still has some growing pains to endure. Jones has shown flashes of potential, but he lacks the consistency required to be a productive fantasy defenseman at this point. With one assist and just two shots on goal in five games, fantasy owners may want to look elsewhere for help on the blue line.

Ben Scrivens (G, EDM) - 58% Owned

Some thought this would be the year that the Oilers could make a run at the playoffs, but the early stages of the season have been ugly in Edmonton. Ben Scrivens is more the victim of a bad team than anything else. Despite only allowing one goal in his last outing, Scrivens remains winless in four appearances this season. Things do not appear to be improving for the Oilers, and that's not a good sign for Scrivens's fantasy value going forward.