This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
The trade deadline is Monday, but the action rolls on with a six-game Sunday slate on tap. Keep a close eye on last-minute healthy scratches as teams use precaution on their tradable assets. Here are some players to set you up for success in this exciting format.
GOALIE
David Rittich, CGY at OTT ($25): Rittich played horribly after the All-Star break and watched Mike Smith start the last five games as a result. This is the perfect chance for the 26-year-old to get back in the saddle, as the Senators have been shutout in back-to-back games without Matt Duchene in the lineup. Ottawa kept selling and sent 22-goal guy Ryan Dzingel to the Blue Jackets, leaving few weapons on Ottawa's roster. Even if the Flames go back to Mike Smith ($28), he's also a steal in this contest.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jonathan Bernier, DET vs. SJ ($28): Bernier has lost four straight outings and produced a measly .900 save percentage in the process. A meeting with the Sharks won't help his cause, as San Jose ranks second in the league with 3.66 goals per game and fifth with a 22.4 power-play percentage.
CENTER
Ryan Strome, NYR at WAS ($16): Strome had recorded just 11 points in his first 35 games with the Blueshirts, but now he's totaled three goals and four assists over the last seven. Two of those scores came Saturday versus the Devils while Strome was playing on the second line since Kevin Hayes was out of the lineup. Hayes will be out again and should be traded by Monday's deadline, likely carving out a permanent role for Strome in the top six and making him a major bargain against the league's 22nd-ranked defense.
CENTER TO AVOID
Mark Scheifele, WPG at ARI ($30): On top of being pointless in the last four games, Scheifele posted negative fantasy points in three of those outings due to a brutal minus-7 rating during that span. The Coyotes are also strong defensively, with the top-ranked penalty kill at 85.9 percent and the 10th-ranked defense with 2.87 goals against per contest. Don't spend top dollar on a slumping Scheifele.
WINGS
Alex DeBrincat, CHI vs. DAL ($25): The 21-year-old is scoring at a higher pace than Patrick Kane ($35) did at the same age with 34 goals in 62 games, and he's been on fire lately. DeBrincat has marked the scoresheet in 13 of the last 14 outings, while racking up five tallies and three apples over the last four. Consider him a knock-off version of Kane with a similar upside.
Mats Zuccarello, DAL at CHI ($18): The Rangers traded Zuccarello to the Stars on Saturday night, and he should be ready to fill into the top six and power play for Sunday's game. The latter should especially come in handy since the Blackhawks own the league's worst penalty kill, and their defense has been porous lately with 21 goals against in the last four games.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrik Laine, WPG at ARI ($23): Laine finally ended his uncharacteristic goal drought with two tallies Friday after being bumped up to the top line. He'll likely work with the same unit again, but the Coyotes have averaged just 2.42 goals against while stymying 18 of their opponent's last 19 power-play chances over the last seven games. That doesn't leave much hope for Laine continuing his momentum.
Gustav Nyquist, DET vs. SJ ($16): Nyquist notched just one point – a goal – over the last five games, while recently been relegated to the team's second power-play unit. Regardless, the opportunities to score with the man advantage would be few and far between with the Sharks' penalty kill ranking eighth in the league at 82.0 percent.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson, WAS vs. NYR ($24): Carlson has compiled six points – including four with the man advantage – over the last five games, and he'll have the luxury of squaring off against the league's 26th-ranked penalty kill. The Rangers will be further depleted while on the kill without Adam McQuaid in the lineup, opening the door for Carlson to keep piling on.
Erik Gustafsson, CHI vs. DAL ($17): Quietly becoming the top dog on the Blackhawks' blue line, Gustafsson leads the squad's defensemen with 43 points. The 26-year-old hasn't faltered lately, ringing up a goal and eight assists over the last seven while shooting enough to cement a solid floor. And with a spot on the team's top power play, he's yet again a valuable option.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Thomas Chabot, OTT vs. CGY ($21): The Senators are looking toward the future, and Chabot's game has suffered with no points and a minus-5 rating over the last two outings. Calgary sports a stingy defense that is ranked 10th in the league with 2.87 goals against per game, and its fiery offense could plummet Chabot's rating once again.
Ryan Suter, MIN vs. STL ($18): Although he continues to manage major minutes, Suter has no goals over the last 12 games. The veteran blueliner has failed to fire a shot on net in each of the last two outings, and he hasn't registered a point in three games versus the Blues this season. The Blues are also locked down defensively now, making his chances to break that trend even slimmer.
