Week 1: Fantasy top 25 goalie rankings for 2017-18

All season long, NHL.com's David Satriano will rank the top 25 goalies for standard Yahoo leagues (wins, goals-against average, save percentage, shutouts). Players with long-term injuries have been removed from this list.
These rankings are based on expectations for the rest of the season. Value is quantified by projected starts, peripheral category coverage, time-share situations, team defenses, past performance and overall upside in standard leagues. It is important to note that our rankings reflect sheer fantasy value, not necessarily the most talented goalies in order.

MORE FANTASY RANKINGS:
Top 100 forwards
|
Top 50 defensemen

TRENDING UP

Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK (75 percent owned in Yahoo): It's extremely early in the season and Fleury is playing for an expansion team, but the early returns have been more than fantasy owners could have expected. The 32-year-old is tied for the NHL lead in wins (3-0-0) and has a 1.32 goals-against average and .963 save percentage, stopping 103 of 107 shots. The fact that the Vegas Golden Knights traded experienced backup Calvin Pickard to the Toronto Maple Leafs and have Malcolm Subban, who's played two NHL games, as their backup means Fleury could be in line for a heavy workload. Now is the time to get Fleury if available; the Golden Knights play each of their next six games at home (Oct. 13-27).
Semyon Varlamov, COL (42 percent owned): After having season-ending double hip surgery on Jan. 26, there were questions about how Varlamov would fare upon his return. He was 6-17-0 with a 3.38 GAA and .898 SV% for the Colorado Avalanche in 2016-17, the third straight season he had an increase in GAA and a decrease in SV%. But in three games this season, Varlamov is 3-0-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .945 SV%. He stopped 56 of 58 shots in his first two games, including a shutout, and has shown no signs of rust after more than nine months between regular-season starts. Colorado isn't expected to be in the Stanley Cup Playoff picture, but let's not forget the last time Varlamov was healthy (2013-14), he was 41-14-6 with a 2.41 GAA and .927 SV% in 63 appearances (60 starts) and finished second in Vezina Trophy voting.

Jimmy Howard, DET (52 percent owned): The Detroit Red Wings goalie has picked up where he left off in terms of peripherals last season. He's 2-0-0, allowing three goals on 77 shots in wins against the Minnesota Wild and the Ottawa Senators, after going 10-11-1 last season, when he had a 2.10 GAA and .927 SV%, each the best of his 12-year NHL career. Howard made a case for more playing time after Petr Mrazek allowed three goals in a 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Mrazek had a .901 SV% last season; his .911 mark at even strength ranked 68th of 95 goalies who played at least one game in the League. True, Howard remains an injury risk, but the 33-year-old is available in almost half of Yahoo leagues, a number which is decreasing by the day.

TRENDING DOWN

Steve Mason, WPG (24 percent owned): The Winnipeg Jets were hoping for a better start from them and from Mason, who allowed five goals on 20 shots before being pulled in a 7-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Oct. 4 and six goals on 45 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Calgary Flames on Oct. 7. In 101 minutes, Mason has a 6.53 GAA and .831 SV%. It's worth noting his GAA has gone up and his SV% has gone down in each of the past two seasons. Connor Hellebuyck was outstanding (37 saves) in a 5-2 win against the high-powered Edmonton Oilers on Monday. He's owned in more leagues (36 percent) than Mason, a number which could rise after the poor start.
Robin Lehner, BUF (67 percent owned): The question that needs answering: Will we see more performances from Lehner like his opening-night start (38 saves, two goals allowed in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens) or like his previous start (four goals on 16 shots in 27 minutes in a 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders)? Chad Johnson started the Sabres' previous game, but allowed six goals and was pulled for Lehner in a 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday. Johnson (2 percent owned) was brought in to back up Lehner, who made an NHL career-high 58 starts last season. Now is not the time to start Lehner. The Sabres, who were 13-22-6 on the road last season, have a six-day, four-game road trip coming up against the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Golden Knights.
Antti Raanta, ARI (44 percent owned): After not playing in the opener because of an injury, Raanta made 40 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Golden Knights on Saturday before allowing three goals on five shots in 6:15 at Vegas on Tuesday before being pulled. The Coyotes have allowed 12 goals in three games, which could be a reoccurring theme this season. If Raanta remains healthy and gets most of the starts, his save percentage could be decent given the large volume of shots the Coyotes allow per game (37). However, the early returns of Raanta and the Coyotes don't leave much to be desired.

TOP 25 GOALIE RANKINGS

Standard Yahoo categories include wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goaltenders. ... Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production, team goaltender situations, anticipated start volume, projected goal support (or lack thereof), injury history, age, sleeper, bounce-back or breakout potential, potential regression, contract status and overall upside for this season.
1. Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ (+3)
2. Matt Murray, PIT (-1)
3. Braden Holtby, WSH (-1)
4. Carey Price, MTL (-1)
5. Cam Talbot, EDM (SAME)
6. Jonathan Quick, LAK (+5)
7. Jake Allen, STL (-1)
8. Corey Crawford, CHI (+2)
9. Devan Dubnyk, MIN (-2)
10. Tuukka Rask, BOS (-1)
11. Pekka Rinne, NSH (-3)
12. John Gibson, ANA (+2)
13. Ben Bishop, DAL (-1)
14. Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL (+2)
15. Martin Jones, SJS (-2)
16. Mike Smith, CGY (+2)
17. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (-2)
18. Cory Schneider, NJD (+4)
19. Frederik Andersen, TOR (-2)
20. Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK (NEW)
21. Craig Anderson, OTT (-2)
22. Jimmy Howard, DET (NEW)
23. Semyon Varlamov, COL (NEW)
24. Jaroslav Halak, NYI (SAME)
25. Brian Elliott, PHI (-5)
Dropped out:Scott Darling (CAR), Robin Lehner (BUF), Antti Raanta (ARI)
Key injuries:Ryan Miller (ANA)
READ: Last month's Top 25 goalie rankings