Hot fantasy topics: Underrated players by position

Having Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) or Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) on your roster will always help in your pursuit of a fantasy hockey championship. But having unlikely players emerge as fantasy superstars during the season is what will likely make or break your roster.

Being able to draft a guy in the seventh round or later that ends up providing first- or second-round value is what I'm referring to. Finding a diamond in the rough. And often times they aren't your household names, so despite their hidden success they still go un-talked about or aren't given the credit they deserve. But make no mistake, these are the players that prove to be the difference makers in fantasy leagues.

Here are five players that have turned out to be elite fantasy commodities this season that way too many people have never heard of or don't know enough about (one for each position).

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Tyler Johnson, C, Tampa Bay Lightning

Despite finishing third in Calder Trophy voting last season, Johnson (center and right wing eligible in Yahoo leagues) still was undervalued back in September. He was drafted on average with the 176th pick in the 16th round. Right now, he ranks as the No. 14 player overall and No. 7 center in Yahoo leagues. The center position is the deepest in fantasy hockey, but the second-year forward has emerged as one of the most valuable. And the biggest reason for this has been his consistency. Johnson is tied for second in the NHL in games with at least one point (43), trailing only John Tavares of the New York Islanders (44). His plus-31 rating is third and his 0.98 points-per-game are 10th best.

Tomas Tatar, LW, Detroit Red Wings

The talented 24-year-old left wing was drafted on average with the No. 161 pick in the 14th round. Right now he ranks as the No. 50 player overall and No. 15 left wing. And somehow he's owned in just 74 percent of Yahoo leagues. Tatar's season got off to a rough stretch with two goals and no assists in his first 10 games, but since then he has 44 points in 52 games (23 G, 21 A). He has already set career-highs with 25 goals (most on his team) and 46 points this season, putting him on pace for 33 goals and 60 points.

Blake Wheeler, RW, Winnipeg Jets

Wheeler was a U.S. Olympian in Sochi last year, but playing for the Jets has kept his name relatively quiet in fantasy circles. He was drafted on average with the No. 88 pick in the eighth round. Right now he ranks as the No. 35 player overall and No. 15 right wing. What's most surprising is he was drafted so late despite finishing last season with 69 points and as the No. 24 overall fantasy player. To some extent, he has actually taken a step back this season. Regardless, he is still an extremely valuable player to own thanks to his well-roundedness (17 goals, 29 assists, plus-13, 67 penalty minutes, nine power-play points and 190 shots on goal). As demonstrated by his draft position going into this season, Wheeler continues to be forgotten. Let this be a lesson learned for next season. Wheeler is a legit fantasy commodity.

Roman Josi

Defense - NSH

GOALS: 11 | ASST: 36 | PTS: 47
SOG: 159 | +/-: 16

Josi was drafted on average with the 149th pick late in the 13th round. Right now, he ranks as the No. 54 player overall and No. 9 fantasy defensemen. A big reason Josi is still relatively unknown is because he's constantly playing in the shadow of his teammate, Shea Weber. But make no mistake, Josi has been almost as productive as Weber. The big difference, you had to draft Weber in the third round to get him on your roster. Josi has four more points than his teammate, the same amount of power-play points and a near identical plus/minus (Josi is plus-16, Weber is plus-15). The difference has come mostly in the penalty minute category, where Weber has 68 compared to Josi's 20. Regardless, Josi has proven to be one of the most undervalued defensemen in fantasy hockey and is likely on the roster of many owners contending for a title.

Braden Holtby, G, Washington Capitals

Holtby was drafted on average with the 81st pick in the late seventh round. Right now, he ranks as the No. 13 player overall and No. 2 fantasy goalie behind only Price. He is second in the NHL with seven shutouts; he's second in games with at least a .950 save percentage (22); and fourth in games allowing one goal against (14). And let's not forget that his 2.17 goals-against average ranks fourth in the NHL and his .925 save percentage ranks seventh.

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