Week 9: Fantasy top 50 defenseman rankings for 2017-18

Each week during the regular season, NHL.com has you covered with an overview of the fantasy defenseman landscape. With production trends, injury news and top 50 rankings based on performance and upside in standard Yahoo leagues, fantasy owners should use this information as a basis for roster decision-making.

MORE FANTASY RANKINGS:
Top 100 forwards
|
Top 25 goalies
TRENDING UP
Charlie McAvoy, BOS (58 percent owned): Rookie defensemen often take time to develop, but that hasn't been the case for McAvoy. He has built upon his impressive six-game cameo with the Boston Bruins during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs and is averaging 23:36 of ice time while playing on the top pairing with Zdeno Chara. He has four points (two goals, two assists) during a current three-game scoring streak and seven points (three goals, four assists) and 10 shots on goal in his past eight games. This outburst has pushed his season totals to 15 points (four goals, 11 assists), four power-play points and 35 SOG in 25 games. He hasn't scored a ton with the extra man, but opportunities to do so have been plentiful; he averages 1:57 of power-play ice time per game.
Kris Russell, EDM (8 percent owned): Russell's offensive production has dropped off in each of the past two seasons, falling from 34 points in 2014-15 with the Calgary Flames to 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) last season with the Edmonton Oilers. He has bounced back significantly this season with 12 points (two goals, 10 assists), two on the power play, 35 SOG and a plus-3 rating. He is being used on the top pairing with Darnell Nurse (27 percent owned in Yahoo) and has averaged 0:36 per game on the power play. His numbers are a result of a current three-game scoring streak (one goal, three assists) and six points (one goal, five assists) in his past seven games. Russell's value increases if you play in a league that counts blocked shots; he ranks third in the League with 73.
Justin Braun, SJS (4 percent owned): Braun hasn't been fantasy-relevant since scoring 23 points in each of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, but he's garnering attention again this season. The 30-year-old has points in six of seven games, scoring one goal and five assists over that span. That has pushed his season totals to 11 points (one goal, 10 assists), 27 SOG and plus-7 in 26 games. He doesn't get any power-play time, but he's averaging 20:31 per game on the top pairing with Marc-Edouard Vlasic. There are no guarantees that he'll maintain this level of production, but he could worth a roster spot as he rides this hot streak.

TRENDING DOWN
Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF (76 percent owned): Ristolainen was a top 15 scorer among defensemen last season, finishing fourth in power-play points and second in power-play assists. He hasn't lived up to that potential this season and has seven points (all assists) in 19 games. He has three points in his past 11 games and is minus-3 in his past five. Ristolainen has dealt with injury this season and the Buffalo Sabres are struggling, but he was plus-4 during the Sabres' 4-2 win at the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. He also had four SOG, giving him 53 for the season. It is hard to consider him a must-play in standard leagues, but he does log a ton of minutes, so if his team scores he'll likely be involved. Ristolainen is averaging 27:00 per game and 3:46 on the power play.
Johnny Boychuk, NYI (35 percent owned): Boychuk has a plum assignment; he plays alongside a resurgent Nick Leddy on the New York Islanders' top pairing. However, his stat line has yet to benefit. Boychuk has three points (two goals, one assist) in his past 13 games and was held without a shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. He did have 22 SOG in the seven games leading up to the game against the Lightning, but it doesn't seem as if he's going to carry much fantasy value in standard scoring formats. He averages 20:47 per game and is getting 0:55 per game on the power play, but his main value seems to be coming in terms of SOG. He's averaging 2.78 per game, which could help if that's a category that you're hunting for. For the season he has eight points (three goals, five assists), one power-play point, 75 SOG and is plus-8 in 27 games.
---
TOP 50 DEFENSEMAN 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, defense pairs, power-play usage, team's offseason changes, 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. John Klingberg, DAL (+2)
2. Drew Doughty, LAK (+2)
3. Roman Josi, NSH (+2)
4. Alex Pietrangelo, STL (-3)
5. Victor Hedman, TBL (-3)
6. Erik Karlsson, OTT (SAME)
7. P.K. Subban, NSH (SAME)
8. John Carlson, WSH (+1)
9. Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI (-1)
10. Kris Letang, PIT (+2)
11. Nick Leddy, NYI (+2)
12. Brent Burns, SJS (-1)
13. Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR (-3)
14. Dustin Byfuglien, WPG (+1)
15. Zach Werenski, CBJ (+1)
16. Mikhail Sergachev, TBL (+2)
17. Duncan Keith, CHI (-3)
18. Will Butcher, NJD (-1)
19. Morgan Rielly, TOR (+1)
20. Dougie Hamilton, CGY (+1)
21. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI (+1)
22. Torey Krug, BOS (+1)
23. Shea Weber, MTL (NEW - INJ.)
24. Tyson Barrie, COL (+1)
25. Jake Muzzin, LAK (+2)
26. Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF (-7)
27. Brandon Montour, ANA (+1)
28. Colton Parayko, STL (+1)
29. Mattias Ekholm, NSH (+1)
30. Mike Green, DET (-6)
31. Keith Yandle, FLA (+2)
32. Aaron Ekblad, FLA (-1)
33. Charlie McAvoy, BOS (+5)
34. Justin Schultz, PIT (DTD)
35. Ryan Suter, MIN (-3)
36. Seth Jones, CBJ (-2)
37. Ryan McDonagh, NYR (-1)
38. Cam Fowler, ANA (+3)
39. Ivan Provorov, PHI (-4)
40. Mark Giordano, CGY (-1)
41. Matt Niskanen, WSH (-1)
42. Justin Faulk, CAR (-5)
43. TJ Brodie, CGY (-1)
44. Jake Gardiner, TOR (-1)
45. Oscar Klefbom, EDM (-1)
46. Tyler Myers, WPG (NEW)
47. Sami Vatanen, NJD (SAME)
48. Erik Johnson, COL (-3)
49. Shea Theodore, VGK (-3)
50. Kris Russell, EDM (NEW)
Dropped out: Josh Manson, ANA; Johnny Boychuk, NYI
Key injuries: Ryan Ellis, NSH; Jared Spurgeon, MIN, Hampus Lindholm, ANA; Andrej Sekera, EDM
READ: Last week's Top 50 defenseman rankings