Week 12 Fantasy defenseman top 50 rankings for 2018-19

NHL.com's fantasy hockey defenseman top 50 rankings are based on past production and expectations for the rest of the season in standard Yahoo leagues. For more fantasy hockey coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

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TRENDING UP

Zach Werenski, CBJ:The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman cracked NHL.com's top 20 at the position with six points (four goals, two assists) in his past five games. He's plus-3 with 12 shots on goal in 22:03 over the span skating on the top pair with Seth Jones. Werenski and Jones are the third defenseman duo in the top 20, joining Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks and Roman Josi and P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators.
Erik Karlsson, SJS:The Sharks defenseman is approaching the top five with 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in his past 11 games. Karlsson is plus-10 with 46 SOG in 24:37 over the span and will continue to climb the list if his elite production continues to overshadow his underwhelming start to the season.
Nate Schmidt, VGK: He has emerged as the most valuable Vegas Golden Knights defenseman over Shea Theodore and Colin Miller (upper body; injured reserve). Schmidt has seven points (one goal, six assists), is plus-9 and has 19 SOG in his past seven games. It's worth noting Theodore still occupies the top power-play spot with forwards Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith, William Karlsson and Alex Tuch but could lose that usage if his lack of production (one assist in past 11 games) continues.

INJURY UPDATES

Thomas Chabot, OTT: The Ottawa Senators defenseman is expected to be out at least three weeks with an upper-body injury. Chabot is tied for third among NHL defensemen with 38 points (10 goals, 28 assists) in 38 games and will be difficult to replace, but fantasy owners could turn to in-house option Maxime Lajoie (13 percent owned in Yahoo). The 21-year-old has been elevated to the first power-play unit with forwards Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, Brady Tkachuk and Colin White.
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG: The Winnipeg Jets defenseman is expected to be out at least one month with a lower-body injury. Byfuglien's production (29 points in 32 games) and category coverage (91 SOG, 53 hits) can't be replaced, but the next best option would be defenseman Josh Morrissey (64 percent), who is skating on the first power-play unit with forwards Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor. Fantasy owners can also turn to Jacob Trouba (48 percent owned) or Tyler Myers (22 percent), who should each see an increased workload until Byfuglien returns.

TOP 50 DEFENSEMAN RANKINGS

Standard Yahoo categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points, shots on goal and now hits for skaters. ... Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production, defense pairs, power-play usage, injury history, sleeper, bounce-back or breakout potential, anticipated regression, age and contract status (potential 2019 UFA: \; RFA: \\). DTD indicates players with day-to-day injury concerns.
1. Brent Burns, SJS (SAME)
2. John Carlson, WSH (SAME)
3. Morgan Rielly, TOR (SAME)
4. Victor Hedman, TBL (+2)
5. Mark Giordano, CGY (SAME)
6. Seth Jones, CBJ (+1)
7. Erik Karlsson, SJS\ (+6)
8. Kris Letang, PIT (+2)
9. Torey Krug, BOS (+2)
10. John Klingberg, DAL (-2)
11. Roman Josi, NSH (-2)
12. Tyson Barrie, COL (+3)
13. Shea Weber, MTL (DTD)
14. Keith Yandle, FLA (SAME)
15. P.K. Subban, NSH (+1)
16. Zach Werenski, CBJ\\ (+10)
17. Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF (SAME)
18. Ryan Ellis, NSH (+6)
19. Drew Doughty, LAK (SAME)
20. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI (+5)
21. Jake Gardiner, TOR* (SAME)
22. Charlie McAvoy, BOS\\ (DTD)
23. Ryan Suter, MIN (-3)
24. Alexander Edler, VAN* (+5)
25. Mattias Ekholm, NSH (+3)
26. Alex Pietrangelo, STL (NEW - INJ.)
27. Rasmus Dahlin, BUF (-4)
28. Miro Heiskanen, DAL (-1)
29. Jeff Petry, MTL (+6)
30. Darnell Nurse, EDM (SAME)
31. Brandon Montour, ANA (SAME)
32. Aaron Ekblad, FLA (SAME)
33. Josh Morrissey, WPG (+1)
34. Nate Schmidt, VGK* (+12)
35. Ryan Pulock, NYI (+8)
36. Jared Spurgeon, MIN (SAME)
37. Colin Miller, VGK (DTD)
38. Neal Pionk, NYR\\ (+1)
39. Ryan McDonagh, TBL (+1)
40. Shea Theodore, VGK (-7)
41. Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI (-3)
42. Jake Muzzin, LAK (+1)
43. Noah Hanifin, CGY (NEW)
44. Mikhail Sergachev, TBL (+1)
45. Erik Gustafsson, CHI (+5)
46. Ivan Provorov, PHI\\ (-5)
47. Dougie Hamilton, CAR (-5)
48. Nick Leddy, NYI (NEW)
49. Esa Lindell, DAL\\ (-1)
50. Josh Manson, ANA (-1)
Dropped out:Dustin Byfuglien, WPG (OUT - INJ.); Thomas Chabot, OTT (OUT - INJ.); Colton Parayko, STL
Key injuries: Matt Dumba, MIN; Oscar Klefbom, EDM; Mike Green, DET; Cam Fowler, ANA; Justin Schultz, PIT
Just missed: Justin Faulk, CAR; Jacob Trouba, WPG\\; Tyler Myers, WPG; Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJS; Michal Kempny, WSH

READ: Last week's Top 50 defenseman rankings

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