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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:
Alex Killorn (C/LW, TB) 43% owned. Tied for 14th in the league in goals scored plus Tampa Bay has a favorable schedule this week.
Michael Grabner (LW, NYR) 33% owned. I talked about JT Miller last week, the third line for NYR has been lights out the last few weeks. He's tied for 7th in the league in goals scored, this won't be so at year end but ride the hot streak for the next month.
Antoine Roussel (LW, Dal) 17% owned. If you are in a league that rewards PIM's, he's first in the league right now, he has 8 points along with that +2, 20 SOG and 3 PPP, not a bad spread across the board. He's now on the second line with Tyler Seguin.
Alexander Wennberg (C, CBJ) 27% owned. Second most PPP in the league, he's young and he's looking great, he could be a name to watch for breakout star. He's getting the prime minutes on the first place line and is not disappointing.
Connor Hellebuyck (G, WGP) 34% owned. For the time being he's the starting goalie on a very strong young team, the winds could change with a cold streak by him or the young players but his five wins is good enough for 13th in the league.
5 Benders:
Justin Faulk (D, Car) 87% owned. He has an upper body injury and will be out a few weeks. He was ok so far but the Carolina team as a whole is not looking spectacular. I think better options sit out there.
Sean Monahan (C, Cgy) 81% owned. I was very bullish on him at the start of the year but lately I've been benching him and I'm probably within 2 weeks of letting him go unless he really starts to impress me.
Jason Spezza (C, Dall) 78% owned. I had him on here a few weeks ago but I'm going to reiterate, I don't think he's going to have a decent season at all. Add in to that Dallas has a tough week ahead of them.
Jonathan Drouin (LW,RW, TB) 59% owned. TB has a favorable week, if he doesn't have a spike this week, I'm done with him.
All NYI not named John Tavares Above 50% owned. Add to their struggling woes two games this week on the road where they haven't won a game and are a combined -8.