Fantasy picks: Brandon Sutter underrated option

Each day this season, NHL.com's fantasy staff will provide daily picks for DraftKings NHL contests. This list of targets includes expensive and value options at each position to help you build a winning roster.
C - Brandon Sutter, VAN ($4,200)
Sutter leads the Vancouver Canucks in points (five). He has a goal and four assists to go along with four blocks and 17 SOG in five games. With Loui Eriksson not producing, Sutter has stepped up. Last season, he was unable to stay healthy and had nine points in 20 games for the Canucks. It's early, but he is on pace to shatter his career high in points (40 in 2009-10) and is a good and affordable option against the Anaheim Ducks.

C - Eric Staal, MIN ($5,200)
Staal has three goals and 13 SOG in five games with the Minnesota Wild and has played as if he has a chip on his shoulder after having a down season in 2015-16. Staal, 31, had 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 83 games with the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes, and his ability to produce was in question. Staal has proven he still has a knack for scoring and has a favorable matchup against the New York Islanders.
W - Patrik Laine, WPG ($6,000)
The Winnipeg Jets forward is coming off a hat trick in a 5-4 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, in which he scored twice in the third period and again in overtime. Laine had five shots and was a plus-2. In five games, he has four goals, one assist, two power-play points and 10 SOG. Not to mention, he'll face an Edmonton Oilers defense which looks shaky to start the season. Expect Laine to have another big game Sunday at the 2016 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic in Winnipeg, with the hockey world watching.

W - Radim Vrbata, ARI ($4,900)
Vrbata has had at least 4.0 DraftKings points in three of his first four games. The Arizona Coyotes wing has points in three games - one goal and two assists - and has had at least three SOG in each of his four games. He may not be the flashiest name in the contest, but Vrbata's price and consistency throughout the first two weeks of the season make him a low-risk high-reward player in this contest against the Rangers.
D - Kris Russell, EDM ($4,400)
Russell had three assists in his first two games with the Oilers but hasn't had a point in three games since. On a light game night (four games), you may be better off choosing a cheaper defenseman who could still put up DraftKings points. Russell had three SOG and five blocks in his most recent game (4.0 DraftKings points) and two SOG with eight blocks in the game before that (5.0 DraftKings points). He's averaging 3.9 points per contest and gets a good matchup against the Jets.
D - Cam Fowler, ANA ($5,100)
The Ducks may not be playing well (1-3-1) but Fowler has arguably been their best player with two goals and two assists in five games. Fowler has 12 SOG and six blocks and is always a threat both offensively and defensively (blocks). He may not be as flashy as other defensemen, but he's very consistent and you know what you're getting when you select him. Fowler and the Ducks will face the Canucks, their Pacific Division rival.

G - Ryan Miller, VAN ($7,200)
Miller hasn't played in a week (Oct.15) since he stopped all 25 shots he faced in a 2-1 win against the Calgary Flames but didn't get a shutout, because a goal was scored when he was off the ice on a delayed penalty call. Miller dealt with an injury but will start Sunday and is one of the cheapest goalie options. The Canucks are 4-0-1 and Miller likely will help them bounce back from their first loss of the season against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday when they play the Ducks on Sunday.
G - Henrik Lundqvist, NYR ($8,300) or Antti Raanta ($7,800)
Lundqvist made 26 saves in a 4-2 win against the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Usually a slow starter, he has allowed 10 goals in four games and has looked good in most of them. It's a back-to-back, so there's a chance the Rangers could start Raanta, who allowed four goals on 31 shots in his lone start this season. Either is a good option at home against a lackluster Coyotes offense.
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