NHL GPP Plays: Thursday, October 29th
Every Tuesday and Thursday I am going to give you my top tournament plays for all Daily Fantasy Hockey GPPs (guaranteed prize pool). GPPs are a general term used across the industry for your big money tournaments.
GPPs are very different from your cash games and you use a different strategy with them. In our GPPs we are not interested in safe plays, since GPPs are all about UPSIDE. We want players who can explode, as all-or-nothing type players can become GPP gold, and your value players are just as important as your star players. You need your players to have huge nights in order to take down these big tournaments.
My goal is to provide players who will be under-owned and have that big game upside you are looking for. I will also try to find as much value as I possibly can. Now, let’s get to the FanDuel NHL GPP plays!
GOALTENDERS
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to game time.
Jeff Zatkoff, Pittsburgh Penguins – Despite playing in consecutive games, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the biggest favorite on the board tonight. Zatkoff should get the start in goal and he is very reasonably priced across the industry. The Buffalo Sabres offense has improved, but they are certainly not a team to fear. The Sabres are ranked 23rd in goals per game (2.00) and I doubt they score more than two goals in this one. Zatkoff should be able to make 20-plus saves and come away with the win tonight. At his price, that will work just find in GPPs.
Other Goalies to Target – Corey Crawford, Ondrej Pavelec, Antti Niemi, Cam Talbot
CENTERS
Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning – We keep waiting for Tyler Johnson and his linemates to bust out with a big game and it has yet to happen this season. However, I expect it to happen tonight with the Colorado Avalanche in town. Colorado continues to get dominated in the possession game and the Avalanche allow way too many scoring chances. This trio (Johnson and linemates Kucherov and Palat) will likely be under-owned in tournaments tonight due to their early season struggles, and I love their potential in this matchup.
Other Centers to Target – Frans Nielsen, Adam Henrique, Jack Eichel, Jori Lehtera
WINGERS
Josh Bailey, New York Islanders – Bailey has been promoted to the New York Islanders’ top line. Playing with superstar John Tavares means Bailey should have plenty of scoring chances. Bailey will also skate on the Islanders’ second power-play unit and he should find his way onto the score sheet in this matchup.
Pascal Dupuis, Pittsburgh Penguins – Dupuis looked very good skating alongside Sidney Crosby last season when he was healthy and he is now back on the Penguins’ top line. Dupuis also saw minutes on Pittsburgh’s number two power-play unit last night. If you are looking for value with upside, Dupuis is a great option.
Jonathan Drouin, Tampa Bay Lightning – Drouin got off to a hot start (six points in his first five games), but has since cooled off (pointless in his last five contests). Unlike Dupuis and Bailey, Drouin also sees time on the Bolts’ number one power-play unit. In a game where the Lightning should light up the scoreboard, Drouin may be the best value option of the three.
Other Wingers to Target – Michael Cammalleri, Gabriel Landeskog, Radim Vrbata, Nikolaj Ehlers
DEFENSE
Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues – Parayko has three points and seven shots on goal in his last two games and he remains the Blues’ power-play quarterback. Parayko is full of offensive upside and as long as Kevin Shattenkirk remains out of the lineup, he makes a great punt in tournament play.
Other Defensemen to Target – Justin Faulk, Rasmus Ristolainen, Yannick Weber, Justin Schultz