This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SJ at VAN ($29): The Sharks have claimed victory in five straight games, and Jones patrolled the crease in four of those. His struggles appear to be in the rearview mirror for now, as Jones has a .939 save percentage since the All-Star break. Vancouver provides a favorable matchup with the 22nd-ranked offense at 2.86 goals per game and just two power-play scores in the last eight contests.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jacob Markstrom, VAN vs. SJ ($31): Markstrom has been stellar since the All-Star break with a .927 save percentage in five games, although his record was a middling 2-2-1. Markstrom can be inconsistent, though, and the Sharks look primed to make him falter as they've won five straight while averaging 4.6 goals per game. Their power play rings up at at a decisive 26.3 percent in that span as well. The risk is too much here.
CENTER
Tomas Hertl, SJ at VAN ($22): Hertl has racked up six goals -- three with the man advantage -- and four assists over the last five games while firing 15 shots on net. His 40.0 shooting percentage is unsustainable, but he'll have the luxury of squaring off against Vancouver's 20th-ranked penalty kill at 79.5 percent. This type of value is uncommon.
CENTER TO AVOID
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. LA ($26): It's tough to get excited about Backstrom when he hasn't lit the lamp in five games and fell below 0.9 fantasy points in three of those contests. He even failed to get a shot on net in Saturday's loss to the Panthers. The Kings look surprisingly stable right now, too, as they've stymied 13 of their opponents' last 14 power-play opportunities.
WINGS
Jakub Voracek, PHI vs. PIT ($19): Voracek has eclipsed the 20-goal plateau in five of six campaigns with the Flyers and he registered a career-high 85 points last season. His low price should signal a recent slump, but that's not the case. The veteran winger rides a six-game, eight-point streak into this contest, and he has a point-per-game pace in 2019. With Philly rolling, Voracek can be stacked with center Sean Couturier ($22) for some added value.
Josh Leivo, VAN vs. SJ ($14): Since being traded to Vancouver, Leivo has a career-best 54.4 Corsi For percentage. The 25-year-old looks comfortable on a line with rookie sensation Elias Pettersson, and the production has followed with six points in as many games. With opportunities surrounding Leivo, he's a bargain for a short slate.
WINGS TO AVOID
Alex Ovechkin, WAS vs. LA ($34): It's rarely a good idea to fade Ovechkin, but it's a matter of dollars. The Russian sniper is $10 more expensive than the next highest-priced winger, and he's goalless in the last four games. The Caps simply aren't clicking right now, either, as the team hasn't scored on the power play since before the All-Star break. Take a risk where it won't break the bank.
Phil Kessel, PIT at PHI ($24): From time to time Kessel slips into a slump, and he's in an ugly one right now. The Wisconsin native is pointless over the last four outings and has seen his fantasy value slip into the negatives due to just four shots on net and a minus-4 rating in that span. He's not worth the premium price tag.
DEFENSEMEN
Brent Burns, SJ at VAN ($31): The viable options on the blue line are scarce, so splurging for the highest-priced asset is an admirable strategy. Burns has two goals and six helpers in the last five games while no other defenseman in this slate has more than four points in that span. That production speaks for itself, and the Canucks' shaky penalty kill raises his ceiling further.
Travis Sanheim, PHI vs. PIT ($16): After spending top dollar on Burns, I'm looking to add a bargain on the blue line. Sanheim has four points in the last five contests and is averaging 21:57 TOI since the All-Star break. He shoots often and blocks plenty of shots as well, providing an intriguing floor if the Flyers' offense falters.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Michal Kempny, WAS vs. LA ($14): Kempny still gets respectable minutes but he's pointless in four straight games and has just two points in that last 14. The youngster doesn't get power-play time, either, so his consistency doesn't pass the eye test for fantasy application.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI vs. PIT ($17): Gostisbehere has slipped to the second pairing due to Sanheim's performance, and he's produced single-digit fantasy points in four straight outings. His power-play minutes mean less in this game, too, since Pittsburgh's penalty kill ranks ninth in the league at 82.0 percent.
