Fantasy Hockey: Breakaways and Benders

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:

Brandon Dubinksy (C, CBJ) 29% owned. He's starting to gain some traction. He has 12 points int he last 14 games to go with 26PIM, +7, 130 Faceoffs Won and 58 hits. It might be short lived but he likely has another good 1-2 weeks in this stretch.

Martin Hanzel (C, Ari) 8% owned. He is the classic situation of - great player, terrible fantasy player as the beauty of his game is more aligned in creating turnovers, holding up plays, physical prowess and his sheer size out there. With that said, he's had 4 goals in the last 4 games and more importantly, while you can't guarantee the goals he has been hitting 12-18 faceoffs every game consistently for a month now.

Nikita Zeitsev (D, Tor) 21% owned. He's on the top line and has 8 assists, 3 PPP and 1 SHP over his last 14 games. Toronto as a whole is playing well.

Calle Jarnkrok (C/RW, Nash) 3% owned. Now centering the third line alongside James Neal, Calle is producing well with 5 goals and 5 assists over his last 14 games, he's shooting often and reading the ice well, I think he could be a sleeper going forward into next year.

Steve Mason (G, Phi) 42% owned. He has been playing well until they switched to Michael Neuvirth but given MIchael has only won 2 games in the last 5 games and they need to make a playoff push now, I think they switch back to Mason.

5 Benders:

Jordan Eberle (RW, Edm) 72% owned. 2 points in his last 10 games, he tends to be streaky so it's not all that surprising. .

Derek Stepan (C, NYR) 55% owned. 0 goals and 5 assists over his last 12 games. He's getting faceoffs won but not much else.

Jason Spezza (C/RW, Dal) 64% owned. I've been singing this all season, he's not nearly what he was last year.

Daniel Sedin (C, Van) 64% owned. 1 goal in his last 14 games and he's supposed to be the elite goal scorer. to go with -5 and non-existent hits and blocked shots.

Marc-Andre Fleury (G, Pit) 70% owned. He's on Pittsburgh so naturally he'll get wins but much like last year I anticipate they will rely on him less and less.