Caleb Williams not top 10?! Iowa’s punter not on the list?! What our top 100 player rankings missed
With the 2023 college football season almost in the rearview mirror, we ranked the top 100 players for the year. But as with any ranking, there is plenty to debate.
Our reporters break down what they think our list missed, from players ranked too high or too low to which players we need to be keeping better tabs on.
Who should have been in the top 10?
Adam Rittenberg: NC State linebacker Payton Wilson. The top 10 includes only one defensive player — Alabama edge/outside linebacker Dallas Turner — as well as three wide receivers and a tight end. Although the top of the wideout group is excellent, Wilson was arguably the nation’s most decorated defender. He won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker and the Bednarik Award as the national defensive player of the year. Wilson led the ACC in both total tackles and tackles for loss, and he was a consistent factor in pass coverage for NC State. Texas‘ T’Vondre Sweat is another award-winning defender who should have been in the top 10.
Mark Schlabach: Much like in the NFL, running backs didn’t get much respect in the player rankings. Oklahoma State‘s Ollie Gordon II led the FBS with 1,732 rushing yards on 285 carries and was second with 21 rushing scores. The Cowboys’ season was spiraling until coach Mike Gundy decided to ride the sophomore’s shoulders. Gordon ran for more than 100 yards in nine of the Pokes’ last 11 games. He had 282 yards with four scores in a 48-34 victory against West Virginia. He had 271 yards with two scores in a 45-13 rout of Cincinnati the next week. Give the man some respect.
Tom VanHaaren: It seems like not a lot of people know how good UCLA edge Laiatu Latu is and what he has done the past few seasons. He was first among all FBS defenders in quarterback pressures with 56 and second in defensive pressure percentage, getting pressure on the quarterback on 20.1% of his pass rushes. He was No. 4 in sacks with 13 and created havoc being versatile in UCLA’s defense. He is likely going to be one of the top defensive prospects in the upcoming NFL draft and should be in the top 10 here.
Paolo Uggetti: Latu is the right call and I wholeheartedly agree with Tom that he was one of the 10 best players in college football this season. Numbers aside, it was clear, while watching UCLA, that even though its entire defensive unit was stout, it was Latu’s ability to wreak havoc up front that set up their success. If I were to make a way-outside case for anyone else, I’d throw Troy Franklin‘s name in the mix. His numbers are ridiculous — 1,383 yards on 81 catches plus 14 touchdowns – and he was arguably just as important as Bo Nix to Oregon’s offense.
Who’s ranked too high?
Rittenberg: At the risk of Schlabach never speaking to me again, Georgia Buckeyes tight end Brock Bowers. He’s certainly one of the nation’s best players, which will be reflected in the 2024 NFL draft. But to have him at No. 5, ahead of so many national award winners on both sides of the ball, in a season in which he missed time because of injury, seems to be a bit of a stretch. I’d feel more comfortable with Bowers around Nos. 10-12. Alabama‘s Kool-Aid McKinstry also seems a bit high at 24.
Kyle Bonagura: Caleb Williams is fantastic, and it will be completely justified when he is the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, but if this is a ranking of the top players in college football this season, No. 10 is too high for him. He ranked 12th in QBR — arguably the best stat to measure a QB’s overall performance — 11th in passing yards and ninth in passing touchdowns on an unranked USC Trojans team that went 7-5. By no objective measure did his production warrant inclusion in the top 10.
David Hale: Well, if we’re to believe the committee, Jordan Travis was an utterly irreplaceable player who was so far and away responsible for Florida State‘s 13-0 record that the rest of the team was unworthy of a playoff berth without him. So, perhaps he should’ve been in our top 10. But let’s take another shot at the committee, too: Jared Verse coming in at No. 28 feels like we might be overlooking that FSU defense as much as the committee did. Indeed, in the Seminoles’ final two games without Travis, Verse dominated as much as any player in college football did at any point this season: 58 pass rushes, 13 pressures, 4.5 sacks, 20 tackles (11 at/behind the line), three QB hurries and one forced fumble, while opponents averaged just 2.7 yards per play (1.7 on the ground) when Verse was on the field.
Who’s underrated?
Rittenberg: James Madison edge rusher Jalen Green (No. 71) missed the team’s final three games after sustaining a significant knee injury, and he still ranked among the nation’s leaders in both sacks (15.5) and tackles for loss (21). He earned first-team AP All-America honors and was a first- and second-team All-America selection from other outlets. We didn’t punish Georgia’s Bowers for missing time because of injury. There’s no way 70 players performed better than Green did before his injury. UTSA‘s Trey Moore is another Group of 5 defensive standout ranked too low (No. 97).
Schlabach: Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson is another player from a Group of 5 program that probably isn’t ranked high enough. He led the FBS in tackles (170) and tackles per game (14.2). Henderson also had 19.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. He is the first Monarch player to be honored on an All-American team. He is the first FBS player since Boston College‘s Luke Kuechly in 2010-11 to lead the country in tackles in consecutive seasons; Henderson had 186 stops in 2022.
Chris Low: Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks put up huge numbers this season. He was third among Power 5 players with an average of 118.3 rushing yards per game despite being the target of opposing defenses every week. The Red Raiders ranked just 65th in passing offense. The 5-10, 230-pound Brooks was a tackle-breaking machine and led all FBS players with 96 missed tackles forced, according to Pro Football Focus. The best news for Texas Tech fans is that Brooks announced he will return to school for the 2024 season.
VanHaaren: Virginia went 3-9 this season and probably didn’t get a ton of attention nationally, so it would’ve been very easy to miss receiver Malik Washington. He transferred to Virginia from Northwestern and was second in the country among all receivers in receiving yards per game, behind Malik Nabers with 118.8 yards. He had nine receiving touchdowns, 1,426 total yards and just four drops. If Washington is in a different offense, he probably gets more attention.
Hale: There are a bunch of guys in the bottom half of our list whom I’d have higher, but let me make the case for Oklahoma‘s Danny Stutsman. He played in 12 games, had 104 tackles (16 for a loss), two forced fumbles and a pick-six. Moreover, he was the heart, soul and personality of the Sooners’ D, a Brent Venables archetype that, frankly, Oklahoma had too few of. Besides, if you’re being compared to Brian Bosworth, you’re a top-50 player with a bright future either in the NFL or running a small sheriff’s department in a Dr. Pepper-obsessed town outside Tulsa.
Which unranked players should have made the list?
Dave Wilson: If you break an 85-year-old NCAA record, you deserve to shine. And nobody was a brighter star for this year’s Iowa Hawkeyes than punter Tory Taylor, a senior from Melbourne, Australia, whose foot touched leather 86 times this year — most in the country — for an all-time record 4,479 yards, breaking a mark set by a college football Hall of Famer John Pingel in 1938. Taylor, the Ray Guy Award winner, had a career average of 46.2 yards per kick, the most in Big Ten history.
Rittenberg: Not to throw my voting colleagues under the bus, but my guess is they didn’t watch or track Troy Trojans running back Kimani Vidal as much as I did in 2023. Vidal ranks second nationally in rushing yards with 1,661 and third in yards per game (118.6) for a Troy team that repeated as Sun Belt champion. He had three games of 233 or more rushing yards. His success is nothing new, as he earned All-Sun Belt honors (second team or honorable mention) in each of his first three seasons and also reached 1,000 rushing yards last year. Not including Vidal in the top 100 is a major oversight on our part. We also really whiffed by not including Arizona Wildcats prolific wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (1,402 yards, 90 receptions, 10 touchdowns).
Hale: It’s a crime Boston College offensive lineman Christian Mahogany didn’t make the cut. He’s a potential first-round pick, and his numbers were off-the-charts good: one pressure allowed and just seven blown blocks on 788 offensive snaps. But here’s a more telling stat: Last year, with Mahogany injured for the season, BC allowed pressure on 41% of dropbacks (127th nationally) and managed just 1.09 yards per rush before contact (131st). With Mahogany back healthy for 2023, BC averaged pressure on 29% of dropbacks (25th) and 2.37 yards before contact per rush (36th).
Uggetti: I understand that this a season-wide endeavor and Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan missed over half of the season, but it’s impossible to watch McMillan play and not be convinced that he is one of the top 100 players in college football. In six games this season, McMillan averaged 13.5 yards per catch, had four touchdowns and four catches of 35 yards or more. But beyond the numbers, McMillan’s speed and agility have been on full display during the Huskies’ title run. Once he catches the ball and gets downfield, he is nearly impossible to catch.
Who’s making a big leap for 2024?
Rittenberg: Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (No. 89) would be my pick if he elects to return in 2024. Ewers became the first Longhorns QB to guide the team to the College Football Playoff, and he repeatedly showed his brilliance in the fourth quarter. A third season under coach Steve Sarkisian should put him in the Heisman Trophy mix as one of the nation’s top signal-callers. Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks (No. 61) also should rise into the top 50 and maybe closer to the top 25. Brooks had 1,541 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns this season, and should have been a bit higher in our rankings. He’ll get his due in 2024.
VanHaaren: I agree with Adam that if Ewers returns, he has an opportunity to move up. His transformation has been noticeable already from the past few seasons to 2023. To choose someone else, though, I’m going to pick a different Texas player. UTSA edge Trey Moore is transferring to Texas and has a chance to shine on the national stage in the SEC in 2024. Moore had 14 sacks this season (third most among all FBS players), 40 quarterback pressures and 16.5 tackles for loss. He will join a veteran Texas defense that has already improved year over year, and he won’t have a ton of pressure to be a star. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a regular name mentioned as one of the top defenders in 2024.
Bonagura: After Cal running back Jaydn Ott ran for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, there was a case for including him on the list this year. Next year, he’ll be among the best running backs in the ACC, and it shouldn’t be a surprise if he is a top-50 player. He averaged 131.8 yards rushing over the last five games of the regular season and helped Cal win its last three to reach bowl eligibility.
Hale: This is clearly an overreaction to one game — but boy what a game Miller Moss had in USC’s bowl win over Louisville. Moss threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns in his first career start, announcing to the world — and, more importantly, Lincoln Riley — that he’s the QB of the future for the Trojans. Does this mean Riley won’t go digging around in the portal? Perhaps not, but odds are, there’s not a better prospect on the market than Riley already has at home. Moss is a former four-star recruit ranked in the top 100 by ESPN, with offers from any school of consequence, and now he gets his shot at the star-making Riley offensive game plan? Go ahead and book Moss a spot in the top 50 for next year.
Uggetti: He may have ended up landing all the way at No. 30 this season, but Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita feels like a stock that’s only going to keep paying dividends. Fifita came on the scene four games into this season after starter Jayden de Laura got hurt and he never looked back. The freshman not only led the Wildcats to seven straight wins to finish the season (including a win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl), but threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in what was essentially three-quarters of a season. The sky is the limit for Fifita and Arizona as they head to the Big 12 next year, and it wouldn’t surprise to see the Wildcats in contention for the conference title while Fifita vies for a top-15 spot on this list.
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Kristen Shilton
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews could miss up to a week of action with a lower-body injury, coach Craig Berube confirmed on Thursday.
The forward’s status was up in the air after he exited in the second period of Tuesday’s game against Boston following a hit from behind by Bruins’ defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Toronto hosts the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.
“[Matthews] may be back sooner [than a week],” said Berube. “One of those things [where] he could come in a couple days from now feeling a lot better and [we’re] hopefully he’s good to go. But we’ll see. Could be as long as a week.”
It was midway through the second period on Tuesday when Matthews was knocked into the boards, and he immediately sought to retaliate on Zadorov with a hit of his own against the blue liner. Matthews didn’t take another shift and left the Leafs’ bench at the next TV timeout. He did not return for the third period.
There was no penalty called on the play, something Berube didn’t agree with.
“I think it’s a penalty, personally,” he said on Tuesday. “I don’t like it; I don’t like the hit [from Zadorov]. [Matthews] was in a vulnerable position.”
This will be Matthews’ first injury-related absence of the season after he was sidelined for 15 games last year. The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has nine goals and 14 points in 17 games this season.
“We played last year without [Matthews] for a while, and it’s just next-man-up mentality [again],” said Berube. “Guys get a bigger bite here, a bigger role. We need a better team game.”
Matthews wasn’t the only one who was forced out of Tuesday’s contest. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz also left after the first period, during which he allowed three goals on 10 shots. Berube said on Tuesday he didn’t think Stolarz’s issue was serious and declared on Thursday he was day-to-day. The netminder is 6-5-1 this season with an .884 SV% and 3.51 GAA.
Dennis Hildeby is expected to start for Toronto against the Kings. The Leafs recalled goaltender Artur Akhtyamov from the American Hockey League on Thursday to back up Hildeby. They also placed forward Scott Laughton on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
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Sean Allen
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Sean Allen
Special to ESPN.com
- Sean Allen is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. He was the 2008 and 2009 FSWA Hockey Writer of the Year.
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Victoria Matiash
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Victoria Matiash
Special to ESPN.com
- Victoria Matiash is a contributing writer for fantasy hockey and betting at ESPN. Victoria has been a part of the fantasy team since 2010.
Another week of the 2025-26 NHL season, another Power Rankings top spot for the Colorado Avalanche according to ESPN’s panel of voters.
But beyond sorting out which are the best (and worst) teams in the league, let’s help out all of the fantasy hockey managers out there. This week, in addition to our 1-32 ranking, we’ve enlisted ESPN fantasy analysts Victoria Matiash (Western Conference) and Sean Allen (Eastern) to identify one player from each team that managers should consider adding to their roster.
Don’t worry if you haven’t signed up yet; it’s not too late to play ESPN Fantasy Hockey. Sign up and play for free today.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Nov. 7. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 80.6%
At minimum, Victor Olofsson serves as a viable streaming option if selected to jostle in for Valeri Nichushkin (injured) on an Avalanche scoring line, in addition to his spot on Colorado’s top power play. As it stands, while inconsistent, the 30-year-old is producing enough with the extra skater to make up for his fantasy-related shortcomings otherwise.
Next seven days: vs. NYI (Nov. 16), vs. NYR (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 73.5%
Dawson Mercer has gone from third-line depth to top-six mainstay. He is pushing for the team lead in goals and delivering more across-the-board stats than most mid-tier forwards. Mercer grades as a top-50 fantasy skater this season.
Next seven days: @ WSH (Nov. 15), @ TB (Nov. 18), @ FLA (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 67.6%
The Ducks are having fun. None more so than Beckett Sennecke, competing on a scoring line with Cutter Gauthier and Mason McTavish. Best suited to deep-league managers with a bit of patience, the 19-year-old tends to score sporadically. But it all works out in the long run.
Next seven days: @ MIN (Nov. 15), vs. UTA (Nov. 17), vs. BOS (Nov. 19), vs. OTT (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 68.8%
Many managers bailed on Nikolaj Ehlers early. Don’t be one of them. After a slow start, he has posted points in five straight games. He didn’t score a goal in October, but he’s producing now and remains available in far too many leagues.
Next seven days: vs. VAN (Nov. 14), vs. EDM (Nov. 15), @ BOS (Nov. 17), @ MIN (Nov. 19)
Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 69.4%
This unproductive start is out of character for Tyler Seguin. It was only last season the experienced center scored 21 points in an injury-shortened 20-game campaign. At least keep Seguin on your fantasy radar in anticipation of more productive days ahead.
Next seven days: vs. PHI (Nov. 15), vs. NYI (Nov. 18), @ VAN (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 64.7%
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes is still on the waiver wire in a third of leagues, which seems like a mistake. He has been a force in limited starts and is clearly separating from Sam Montembeault in fantasy value. Even if playing time isn’t steady yet, stash him now before it is.
Next seven days: vs. BOS (Nov. 15), @ CBJ (Nov. 17), vs. WSH (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 58.8%
Recovered from his ankle injury, Cole Perfetti is finally settling in on the second scoring line and No. 1 power play in Winnipeg. The perceived lineup replacement for a departed Nikolaj Ehlers will have his name on the scoresheet soon enough.
Next seven days: @ CGY (Nov. 15), vs. CBJ (Nov. 18)
Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 57.9%
Morgan Geekie deserves the spotlight, but a recovering Elias Lindholm has been just as impactful when healthy. Still week-to-week, he should soon rejoin Geekie and David Pastrnak at even strength and on the power play. Lindholm’s early-season production hinted at a bounce-back season.
Next seven days: @ MTL (Nov. 15), vs. CAR (Nov. 17), @ ANA (Nov. 19)
Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 61.8%
Anthony Mantha‘s resurgence predates the team’s rash of injuries. He has scored eight goals and looks like the early-career version who flirted with 30. Injuries have shuffled roles, but Mantha’s form should keep him fantasy relevant even when the lineup stabilizes.
Next seven days: vs. NSH (Nov. 14), vs. NSH (Nov. 16)
Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 59.4%
Riding shotgun to Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner, winger Ivan Barbashev is putting up even-strength points with aplomb. And unlike his prodigious linemates, Barbashev is largely available in ESPN fantasy competition. Grab him before competing managers become the wiser.
Next seven days: @ STL (Nov. 15), @ MIN (Nov. 16), vs. NYR (Nov. 18), @ UTA (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 61.1%
Turning back the clock in southern California, Corey Perry is clearly in a scoring mood. While the 40-year-old is unlikely to maintain a point-per-game pace all season, he certainly deserves a spot on your deeper fantasy roster at the moment.
Next seven days: @ OTT (Nov. 15), @ WSH (Nov. 17), @ SJ (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 56.3%
Trade target alert: Brayden Point. His scoring has been oddly cold, but the long-term numbers say it’s just variance. He ranks 19th among skaters in total fantasy production over the past seven seasons and 11th over the past three — this ideal trade window won’t last.
Next seven days: @ FLA (Nov. 15), vs. VAN (Nov. 16), vs. NJ (Nov. 18), vs. EDM (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 58.8%
Slump over! After a dry start to November, JJ Peterka is back to producing with his new squad in Utah. The second-line winger remains available in around third of ESPN fantasy leagues.
Next seven days: vs. NYI (Nov. 14), @ ANA (Nov. 17), @ SJ (Nov. 18), vs. VGK (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 58.8%
Playing with Connor Bedard provides its perks. Just ask forward Andre Burakovsky, who has 14 points in 15 games, including five with the extra skater. Yet, he somehow remains available in nearly three-quarters of ESPN fantasy leagues.
Next seven days: vs. TOR (Nov. 15), vs. CGY (Nov. 18), vs. SEA (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 61.1%
Shane Pinto hasn’t cooled off — he has just shifted from goals to assists. His line with Michael Amadio and Claude Giroux is driving play, outscoring opponents 9-3 so far. Pinto remains a steady fantasy contributor, even if the production looks a little different.
Next seven days: vs. LA (Nov. 15), @ ANA (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 59.4%
Dan Vladar has earned matchup-stream consideration after winning six of nine starts. The pace might slow, but he has been steady behind a more competitive Flyers squad. He’s not a set-and-forget starter, but he’s a worthwhile spot play in daily formats.
Next seven days: @ STL (Nov. 14), @ DAL (Nov. 15), vs. STL (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 61.8%
In one of this season’s feel-good stories, Matt Murray is proving he can still perform, with three solid-to-great starts for the Kraken. The veteran could be a viable streaming option if he is able to muscle appearances away from Philipp Grubauer, even once starter Joey Daccord is healed up.
Next seven days: vs. SJ (Nov. 15), @ DET (Nov. 18), @ CHI (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 58.8%
Simon Edvinsson is a quietly useful depth defenseman. His mix of blocks, hits and modest offense keeps him fantasy relevant, and his pairing with Moritz Seider owns the NHL’s best shot-attempts percentage. He’s a sleeper pick for deeper formats.
Next seven days: vs. BUF (Nov. 15), @ NYR (Nov. 16), vs. SEA (Nov. 18), vs. NYI (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 50%
This is when Ovechkin heats up; he had seven goals in five games around this time last season. If history repeats, his slow start makes him a trade target. He’s 40, but the motor still revs.
Next seven days: vs. NJ (Nov. 15), vs. LA (Nov. 17), vs. EDM (Nov. 19), @ MTL (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 52.6%
Forward Zach Hyman is back this week. Scoop him up before he starts scoring as a member of the Oilers’ top six and No. 1 power play. The 33-year-old winger won’t be available in more than half of ESPN leagues for long.
Next seven days: @ CAR (Nov. 15), @ BUF (Nov. 17), @ WSH (Nov. 19), @ TB (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 55.6%
Gabe Perreault debuted Monday on a scoring line and tallied an assist. After 10 points in nine AHL games, he could be the offensive spark New York needs. In deeper formats, he’s a solid speculative add while the Rangers search for secondary — or maybe just primary — scoring.
Next seven days: @ CBJ (Nov. 15), vs. DET (Nov. 16), @ VGK (Nov. 18), @ COL (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 58.8%
Mathew Barzal, Kyle Palmieri and Emil Heineman are all viable adds from an offense that has been quietly consistent. Barzal is available in fewer than half of leagues, Palmieri in just more than and Heineman almost everywhere — all three offer scoring depth if you need it.
Next seven days: @ UTA (Nov. 14), @ COL (Nov. 16), @ DAL (Nov. 18), @ DET (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 52.8%
While we all “oooh” and “ahhh” (justly so) over what Macklin Celebrini is accomplishing in his second NHL season, know that a healthy-again William Eklund is also pitching in at a valuable pace. And, unlike with Celebrini, you might be able to snag Eklund off the waiver wire in your league.
Next seven days: @ SEA (Nov. 15), vs. UTA (Nov. 18), vs. LA (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 55.9%
The Stanley Cup-winning line is back together, and that’s great news for Eetu Luostarinen. He’s widely available, produces when flanking Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell, and adds extra value in hits.
Next seven days: vs. TB (Nov. 15), vs. VAN (Nov. 17), vs. NJ (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 50%
Oliver Ekman-Larsson is getting an extended look on the top power play. With the first unit still underperforming, he’s worth streaming in hopes that opportunity converts to points. Ride the role while it lasts.
Next seven days: @ CHI (Nov. 15), vs. STL (Nov. 18), vs. CBJ (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 55.9%
Adam Fantilli is an ideal trade target. His slow start hid his upside, but he’s heating up after moving alongside Kirill Marchenko. While the line with Sean Monahan had strong numbers and might tempt another shuffle, Fantilli is currently the top dog and trending up.
Next seven days: vs. NYR (Nov. 15), vs. MTL (Nov. 17), @ WPG (Nov. 18), @ TOR (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 50%
Back on Minnesota’s top line and power play after missing the start of 2025-26, Mats Zuccarello is already back to the business of regularly registering points. While the diminutive veteran isn’t all that flashy in the shallow-league fantasy sphere, he gets the job done in deeper leagues. Skating alongside Kirill Kaprizov helps.
Next seven days: vs. ANA (Nov. 15), vs. VGK (Nov. 16), vs. CAR (Nov. 19)
Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 47.2%
All Kiefer Sherwood does is score goals, ranking among the league leaders thus far. The Canucks’ secret net-finding playmaker is also the league leader in hits, making the left wing a must-start in leagues that reward both categories.
Next seven days: @ CAR (Nov. 14), @ TB (Nov. 16), @ FLA (Nov. 17), vs. DAL (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 44.1%
The Blues don’t have to win another game for Justin Faulk to remain useful in fantasy competition that rewards production and defensive play; the veteran defender ranks second in St. Louis in points and blocked shots. That might partly explain why the Blues are ranked where they are.
Next seven days: vs. PHI (Nov. 14), vs. VGK (Nov. 15), @ TOR (Nov. 18), @ PHI (Nov. 20)
Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 41.2%
Don’t overlook Mattias Samuelsson‘s value. He has only six points, but his blocked shots and peripheral stats make him worth rostering. That kind of depth allows you to explore D-for-D trades knowing you have reliable replacement value sitting on your bench.
Next seven days: @ DET (Nov. 15), vs. EDM (Nov. 17), vs. CGY (Nov. 19)
Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 38.9%
Even before earning his first NHL hat trick, forward Matthew Wood was on a roll with three goals and three assists in six games. Considering how the season is unfolding (again) in Tennessee, it’s only a matter of time before the rookie earns more quality minutes. Add him before the next multigoal contest.
Next seven days: vs. PIT (Nov. 14), vs. PIT (Nov. 16)
Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 31.6%
It was only a few days ago that Jonathan Huberdeau was enjoying a six-game point streak prior to his current three-game pointless one. On the bright side, he’s still steadily shooting on net. If another productive run is just around the corner, the top-line winger might be worth a gamble in extra-deep fantasy leagues.
Next seven days: vs. WPG (Nov. 15), @ CHI (Nov. 18), @ BUF (Nov. 19)
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