Fantasy Hockey: Breakaways and Benders

In this weekly piece I will provide 5 players below 50% owned who should be looked into owning (Breakaways) and 5 players above 50% owned who are struggling (Benders). This doesn't mean you should drop the Benders but maybe they can ride the pine for a week to get their head back in the game. Generally, I am very skittish about dropping anyone above 90% owned unless they have shown 2+ months of really bad play. My rationale for the selections includes some looking through the box scores but a majority of it is with the eye test, watching the games.

5 Breakaways:

David Perron (C, Stl) 15% owned. Over the last 7 days he's scored the most goals in the league. Why? Because he's fired the 12^th most shots on net. Sure he's on the third line with Patrik Berglund and Nail Yakupov but he's on a tear right now, ride it.

Mark Streit (D, Phi) 14% owned. Guess who leads all Defensemen in PPP over the last week. Wait for it, guess who leads THE LEAGUE in PPP over the last 7 days. Add in 4 blocks and and +1 and he's a solid deeper league or PPP heavy pick up.

Scott Wilson (C,LW,RW, Pitt) 1% owned. Guess who is eligible for all forward positions, is sitting on the top line with Sidney Crosby, has 2 points and 9 SOG this past week and is on a team with the most favorable CORSI upcoming week.  Since Sidney came back, he's seen a two minutes increase in average time on ice (ATOI).

Nick Ritchie (LW, Ana) 10% owned. Despite just 4 points across 33 games last season, Nick is now on the top line with Corey Perry and Antoine Vermette, he's on the top PP unit and he has 2 goals across 8 shots and 17 hits this past week. The hits alone are nice but major point production and ice time to go with it is a nice bonus. He's not a long term own but short term he's making a splash. Finally, Anaheim has a favorable CORSI week.

Victor Arvidsson (LW, Nash) 2% owned. He is tied for the most goals over the last 7 days. Currently on Nashville's top line with Ryan Johansen and James Neal he's fired 10 shots on net, 5 points, 2PPP, 2 hits and 4 blocks. Add to this -€” Nashville is facing two of the top ten teams in most goals allowed this season.

5 Benders:

Ryan Suter (D, Minn) 92% owned. He is having a great week but bench him for this upcoming week. Minnesota has two games and they are against the teams with the 13^th and 4^th fewest goals allowed. Minnesota is in for a depleted, rough week.

Blake Wheeler (RW, Wpg) 99% owned. I would bench Blake Wheeler. They have a 4 game week so that's tough but he had 1 assist and a -3 over his last 7 days and he now faces Washington twice Det and NYR all of whom are among the 10 lowest teams in goals allowed. Stifling defense after stifling defense can take it's toll.

Colton Parayko (D, Stl) 76% owned. Personally, I'd drop him (and did in two leagues). He is hitting a nasty sophomore slump and nothing looks to be in sync right now.

Dion Phaneuf (D, Ott) 51% owned. It's sad to see this because he is looking to be on the tail years of his career. 16 shots with nothing to show, -5, the only redeeming quality right now are the hits and PIM's. He used to provide more but the non-existant point production and +/- hit make it tough to justify.

Steve Mason (G, Phi) 51% owned. If there is any form of viable alternative out there, drop Mason and pick them up. His game is off right now. Maybe in a few months he gets hot but he looks out of form.