Week 11: Fantasy top 100 forward rankings for 2017-18

Each week during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with an overview of the fantasy forward landscape. With production trends, injury news and top 100 rankings based on performance and upside in standard Yahoo leagues, fantasy owners should use this information as a basis for roster decision-making.

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TRENDING UP

Nashville Predators: Since acquiring center Kyle Turris on Nov. 5, the Predators have the most points in the NHL (30 in 18 games; 14-2-2), the top-ranked power play (30.6 percent) and are tied for the best goal differential (plus-26 with Tampa Bay Lightning). Center Ryan Johansen returned from injury Dec. 13 and has three points (one goal, two assists), one power-play point and is plus-3 in three games on a line with Viktor Arvidsson and Nick Bonino. Turris' line with Kevin Fiala (LW/RW, 38 percent owned) and Craig Smith (RW, 26 percent) continues to thrive, and Filip Forsberg is skating alongside Calle Jarnkrok (C/LW, 3 percent) and Pontus Aberg. Forsberg, one of three players with at least 15 goals, 15 assists and 15 PPP (others: Nikita Kucherov, Phil Kessel), has remained productive even after Nashville has stretched its top scorers onto three separate lines.
Mikko Rantanen, LW/RW, COL: The Colorado Avalanche forward has been a fixture on the top line and first power-play unit with center Nathan MacKinnon and left wing Gabriel Landeskog, and is still being widely underestimated in season-long leagues. Among players owned in fewer than one-half of Yahoo leagues, Rantanen (46 percent) is the highest-ranked skater based on standard-category performance (62nd overall). Rantanen has nine points (three goals, six assists) and 29 shots on goal in 10 games this month and is tied for 10th in the NHL in PPP (14) on the season.
Danton Heinen, C/LW/RW, BOS: The Boston Bruins rookie was scratching the surface entering last week with solid even-strength production on the third line with David Backes (C/RW, 18 percent owned) and some first power-play exposure to forwards Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and defenseman Torey Krug. Heinen has since exploded on the power play over his past three games, splitting time on the first or second unit and combining for six points (two goals, four assists), four PPP (all assists) and seven SOG. He's the most-added player in Yahoo over the past day, and the Bruins are 6-2-1, outscoring their opponents 33-21, in nine games since Backes returned after colon surgery.

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TRENDING DOWN

Vancouver Canucks: Injuries have ravaged one of the League's most-productive line trios from earlier this season; Canucks forwards Bo Horvat (ankle), Sven Baertschi (jaw) and now Brock Boeser (foot) are sidelined. Boeser, the top-performing rookie in standard leagues (47th in Yahoo), does not have a fracture in his left foot, but it is unknown when he will return. Vancouver's offense will rely heavily on veteran forwards Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin in the absence of their top line. Henrik has a four-game point streak and 11 assists over his past nine games, and Daniel has one goal and eight assists over the same span. Daniel (26 percent owned) and Henrik (14 percent) are each readily available in Yahoo.
Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, DET: The Detroit Red Wings forward had 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) and was a top-15 overall player in standard leagues through his first 19 games, but has been held to three points (two goals, one assist) over his past 13 games. He is minus-9 in the span and has a six-game pointless drought. Detroit's second power-play unit, featuring Mantha, Dylan Larkin and defenseman Mike Green, has cooled off considerably after an strong start. Mantha is still averaging nearly three SOG per game (36 in past 13 games), but Detroit's issues have derailed his breakout season. The Red Wings have been outscored 50-29 over those 13 games. Be patient with Mantha in standard or deep formats, but it's time for shallow-league owners to explore other options.

TOP 100 FORWARD RANKINGS

Standard Yahoo categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, PIMs, PPP and SOG for skaters. ... Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production, line combinations, power-play usage, injury history, age, sleeper, bounce-back or breakout potential, anticipated regression, contract status, Yahoo ADP and overall upside for the rest of the season. ... Any players with day-to-day injury concerns (DTD) are noted. NEW - INJ. indicates a player who has returned from injury and rejoined the rankings.
1. Nikita Kucherov, RW, TBL (SAME)
2. Steven Stamkos, C, TBL (SAME)
3. Alex Ovechkin, LW, WSH (+2)
4. Connor McDavid, C, EDM (-1)
5. Sidney Crosby, C, PIT (-1)
6. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, STL (SAME)
7. Evgeni Malkin, C, PIT (+3)
8. Phil Kessel, RW, PIT (-1)
9. Tyler Seguin, C/RW, DAL (-1)
10. Blake Wheeler, RW, WPG (-1)
11. Filip Forsberg, LW, NSH (+2)
12. John Tavares, C, NYI (+4)
13. Mark Scheifele, C, WPG (-2)
14. Brad Marchand, LW, BOS (+3)
15. Johnny Gaudreau, LW, CGY (-1)
16. Jamie Benn, C/LW, DAL (-1)
17. Patrick Kane, RW, CHI (+3)
18. David Pastrnak, RW, BOS (+4)
19. Patrik Laine, RW, WPG (-1)
20. Brayden Schenn, C/LW, STL (-1)
21. Nathan MacKinnon, C, COL (+5)
22. Claude Giroux, C/LW, PHI (+1)
23. Jakub Voracek, RW, PHI (+1)
24. Anze Kopitar, C, LAK (-3)
25. Patrice Bergeron, C, BOS (+2)
26. Nicklas Backstrom, C, WSH (+2)
27. Anders Lee, LW, NYI (+2)
28. Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, WSH (+2)
29. Sean Monahan, C, CGY (-4)
30. Taylor Hall, LW, NJD (+3)
31. Alexander Radulov, RW, DAL (+3)
32. Evander Kane, LW, BUF (+4)
33. Vladislav Namestnikov, C/LW, TBL (+2)
34. Mathew Barzal, C, NYI (+6)
35. Brock Boeser, RW, VAN (DTD)
36. Leon Draisaitl, C/RW, EDM (+7)
37. Ryan Getzlaf, C, ANA (+7)
38. Jack Eichel, C, BUF (+8)
39. Josh Bailey, LW/RW, NYI (+8)
40. Kyle Turris, C, NSH (+8)
41. Artemi Panarin, C/LW, CBJ (SAME)
42. Brayden Point, C/RW, TBL (+12)
43. Sean Couturier, C, PHI (-6)
44. Aleksander Barkov, C, FLA (-6)
45. Mika Zibanejad, C, NYR (NEW - INJ.)
46. Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, FLA (-7)
47. Vincent Trocheck, C, FLA (-5)
48. Tyler Toffoli, C/RW, LAK (+3)
49. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, WPG (+1)
50. Jonathan Marchessault, C/LW, VGK (+2)
51. Viktor Arvidsson, LW/RW, NSH (+2)
52. James Neal, LW/RW, VGK (+8)
53. Ryan Johansen, C, NSH (NEW - INJ.)
54. Joe Pavelski, C/RW, SJS (+9)
55. Mikko Rantanen, LW/RW, COL (+13)
56. William Nylander, C/RW, TOR (-24)
57. Jake Guentzel, C/LW, PIT (-12)
58. Rickard Rakell, C/LW, ANA (-3)
59. Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, DET (-10)
60. Dustin Brown, LW/RW, LAK (-4)
61. Mark Stone, RW, OTT (+1)
62. Kevin Fiala, LW/RW, NSH (+15)
63. Tyler Johnson, C/RW, TBL (+22)
64. Patric Hornqvist, RW, PIT (DTD)
65. Eric Staal, C, MIN (+4)
66. T.J. Oshie, RW, WSH (DTD)
67. Wayne Simmonds, RW, PHI (-3)
68. Max Pacioretty, LW, MTL (-9)
69. Logan Couture, C/LW, SJS (DTD)
70. Milan Lucic, LW, EDM (+12)
71. Gabriel Landeskog, LW, COL (+20)
72. Nazem Kadri, C, TOR (-15)
73. William Karlsson, C/LW, VGK (-12)
74. Mike Hoffman, LW/RW, OTT (-8)
75. Jeff Skinner, LW, CAR (SAME)
76. Jonathan Toews, C, CHI (-6)
77. James van Riemsdyk, LW, TOR (-10)
78. Mikael Granlund, C/RW, MIN (-6)
79. Nino Niederreiter, LW/RW, MIN (-6)
80. Kyle Connor, LW, WPG (-4)
81. Reilly Smith, LW/RW, VGK (+5)
82. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, CGY (+2)
83. Josh Anderson, RW, CBJ (+6)
84. Brendan Gallagher, RW, MTL (-10)
85. Ondrej Palat, LW, TBL (+3)
86. Mitch Marner, C/RW, TOR (+1)
87. Mats Zuccarello, RW, NYR (+10)
88. Dylan Larkin, C/RW, DET (-8)
89. Clayton Keller, C/LW/RW, ARI (-11)
90. Sebastian Aho, LW/RW, CAR (-9)
91. Teuvo Teravainen, C/LW/RW, CAR (-12)
92. Joe Thornton, C, SJS (-2)
93. Tom Wilson, LW/RW, WSH (+2)
94. Jordan Eberle, C/RW, NYI (+2)
95. Pavel Buchnevich, LW/RW, NYR (NEW)
96. Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW, CBJ (-2)
97. Alexander Steen, C/LW/RW, STL (-5)
98. Craig Smith, RW, NSH (NEW)
99. Adam Henrique, C, ANA (NEW)
100. Danton Heinen, C/LW/RW, BOS (NEW)
Dropped out: Jason Zucker, LW/RW, MIN; Jonathan Drouin, C/LW/RW, MTL; Patrick Marleau, C/LW, TOR; Alex DeBrincat, LW/RW, CHI; Evgenii Dadonov, RW, FLA
Just missed: Chris Kreider, LW, NYR; Yanni Gourde, C/RW, TBL; Tomas Hertl, C/LW/RW, SJS; Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, EDM; Nick Schmaltz, C/LW, CHI; Jakob Silfverberg, LW/RW, ANA; J.T. Miller, C/LW/RW, NYR; Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, CBJ; David Perron, LW/RW, VGK; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, EDM; Justin Williams, RW, CAR; Bryan Little, C, WPG; Mathieu Perreault, C/LW, WPG; Cam Atkinson, RW, CBJ; Daniel Sedin, LW, VAN; Kyle Palmieri, RW, NJD
Key injuries: Auston Matthews, C, TOR (dropped out); Jaden Schwartz, LW, STL; Corey Perry, RW, ANA; Jeff Carter, C, LAK; Bo Horvat, C, VAN; Ryan Kesler, C, ANA; David Krejci, C, BOS (DTD); Zach Parise, LW, MIN
READ: Last week's Top 100 forward rankings