A slow start in fantasy isn't the end of the world. It's also not the time to feel sorry about your squad. Go out there and shake things up.
You may be leading or near the top of your league, but don't sit back and relax. Tweak lineups based on weekly/daily considerations. And always be looking out for the next upwardly trending players, like any of the 14 listed below.
(Rostered rates as of Dec. 12)
Forwards
Gabriel Landeskog, COL (Yahoo: 42%): Landeskog was mentioned last week in relation to Colorado's second line and is now being featured for carrying significant upside despite disappointing recent results. And even though he didn't manage a point over four games, he scored on Thursday and has fired 16 shots on net during the last five on a 16:58 average while part of an elite top power play. Be patient with Landeskog, as he missed the previous three seasons while he's retained his offensive skills and is surrounded by excellent teammates.
Sean Monahan, CLS (Yahoo: 31%): Inconsistency has left Monahan with less scoring than usual, yet he's turned it around the last two weeks via three goals, four assists, 11 shots, eight blocks and 68 faceoff wins across 19 minutes as the Blue Jackets' No. 1 center. He's also been a frequent participant on the lead man-advantage and has notched three PPAs during that stretch. There's always a chance Monahan falls back into another slump, though there's enough talent up front for Columbus to help him out.
Blake Coleman, CGY (Yahoo: 30%): It's usually not a good idea to recommend a player from a club that's struggled to score, but Coleman makes the cut as he's proficient in other areas. The 54 points from two years ago was more of an outlier, as he's usually situated in the mid-to-high 30s alongside a sufficient supply of shots and hits. Coleman's haul through his last nine outings is fairly familiar as he's recorded a shorthanded goal, four assists, 20 shots, 15 PIM and 22 hits. He's set to continue his production as Calgary faces a couple vulnerable defensive sides (Sharks, Oilers [x2], Bruins) before the end of 2025.
Jake Neighbours, STL (Yahoo: 15%): Neighbours is similar to Coleman in that he's on an anemic attack and is decent over a couple categories. The difference is poolies clearly forgot about him after he missed nearly a month with a leg injury. And it's not like Neighbours has been tearing it up since returning, with six points in 12 contests, though the 32 hits during that time and two goals on Saturday are encouraging. Plus he got bumped up to join Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich on the top trio and man-advantage. That type of arrangement for him could lead to stats more resembling the player who posted 46 points last season.
Luke Evangelista, NSH (Yahoo: 6%): I haven't closely followed the Preds of late, so let's just say it was shocking to find out Evangelista leads the team with 19 assists. He may skate on the backup power play, yet has already surpassed his PPP count from last season (seven > five). Evangelista has also reeled off two goals, 11 helpers and 20 shots from the last nine games. Grab him now, and you can always throw him back if/when Nashville reverts to not scoring.
Andrew Copp, DET (Yahoo: 3%): I added Copp this week in the RotoWire Staff Keeper Hockey League after noticing he was centering Detroit's second line between Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane while producing five PPPs on a solid backup unit. The veteran also had a four-game point run snapped on Thursday and recently received a major minutes boost. Monitor Copp's situation to see if his position/role changes before bringing him aboard.
Alexander Wennberg, SJ (Yahoo: 2%): A place in the top-six and lead man-advantage. After all that and a 20:30 average entering Thursday, Wennberg had only accumulated 15 points. And then he broke out that night by contributing on all three San Jose markers -- including potting the OT winner while being the only Sharks' forward to log more than 22 minutes. Wennberg isn't going to regularly produce performances like this but he should be a relatively reliable fantasy player.
Ryan Greene, CHI (Yahoo: 1%): Greene may be more of a deeper-format recommendation since the Blackhawks have been known to swap out Connor Bedard's left-sided line-mate, yet Greene has generally stuck with the star. The first-year forward has also averaged 18:21 since Oct. 30, a clear sign he's being trusted. Put your faith in Greene, even if it's only short-term.
Defensemen
Drew Doughty, LA (Yahoo: 50%): Doughty isn't the prolific point producer he once was while injuries have affected him the last two seasons, but even at 36 he's still someone who can contribute and is under consideration for Canada's upcoming Olympic squad. He returned to the lineup last Thursday, notched two assists on Saturday and has regained his place as the point man on LA's top power play (albeit on a 31st-ranked unit). As long as Doughty stays healthy and continues in prime placement, he needs to be on more fantasy rosters.
Vladislav Gavrikov, NYR (Yahoo: 11%): While Gavrikov is more known for his defensive attributes, he's recently displayed more of an offensive flair by way of seven points from 10 games in addition to 11 shots, 16 blocks, and nine hits on 24:48 a night. He also received his first extensive look on the second man-advantage Wednesday with the Rangers opting for a first group consisting of five forwards. Gavrikov may not do anything there, though he should see more attacking chances with Adam Fox sidelined and not slated to return until late December at the earliest.
Ivan Provorov, CLS (Yahoo: 11%): It's amazing to realize Provorov has been playing in the league for a decade and is still only 28. Since joining Columbus, he's registered consecutive 30-plus-point campaigns. And even currently slightly behind that pace, Provorov has chipped in with a goal on 12 shots and three assists -- two of those PPAs -- alongside 10 blocks and six hits while logging 27:40 (!!) across the last six appearances while joining Zach Werenski at even-strength. That looks like the resume of a defender who shouldn't be available in roughly seven of eight Yahoo! leagues.
Ryan Pulock, NYI (Yahoo: 5%): Pulock has quietly racked up 15 assists -- six coming since Nov. 28 -- thanks to a regular five-on-five gig beside Matthew Schaefer. This type of scoring run doesn't seem sustainable as he hasn't exceeded 26 points since 2019-20, but it is entirely reasonable playing with the super rookie. If Pulock sticks with Schaefer, expect at least 30. And even if that doesn't hold, he's still the Isles' lead on the right side and reliable in a few secondary categories.
Goaltenders
Brandon Bussi, CAR (Yahoo: 35%): Pyotr Kochetkov and Frederik Andersen both missed time due to injury that allowed Bussi to get his first taste of NHL action following three-plus AHL seasons. And he's taken advantage of the opportunity by going 10-1 starting five of Carolina's last seven games and winning all of them -- including one shutout -- while posting a 1.36 GAA and .930 save percentage. Even with the other goalies available, Bussi has done enough to continue getting work and the opportunity to pick up additional victories on a team leading the league in average shots allowed.
Jonathan Quick, NYR (Yahoo: 9%): Igor Shesterkin has been solid the last couple weeks with a 5-2-1 record alongside a 2.38/.919 line, and, of course, there's no questioning his place as the Rangers' No. 1 netminder. Quick has been stellar so far in a much smaller sample size (1.86, .937), yet hasn't given up more than three goals during any of his seven appearances. And with the club listing two back-to-backs over the next nine days, the soon-to-be 40-year-old is guaranteed to face a couple weaker offensive opponents (probably two of three from Vancouver, Philly and Nashville).
Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Carter Verhaeghe, Cole Perfetti, Nick Schmaltz, Anze Kopitar, Kiefer Sherwood, Brock Nelson, Zach Benson, Tyler Toffoli, Jonathan Huberdeau, Adam Fantilli, Patrick Kane, Dawson Mercer, Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, Brock Boeser, Mats Zuccarello, William Eklund, Will Cuylle, Tyler Bertuzzi, Owen Tippett, Josh Norris, Pavel Buchnevich, Alexis Lafreniere, Anton Lundell, Ivan Barbashev, Conor Garland, Jack Roslovic, Beckett Sennecke, Jamie Benn, Zachary Bolduc, Logan Stankoven, Claude Giroux, Marcus Johansson, Mackie Samoskevich, Evander Kane, Teuvo Teravainen, Jake DeBrusk, Braeden Bowman, Sean Couturier, Jordan Eberle, Jackson Blake, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Ross Colton, Jack Quinn, Josh Doan, Arseny Gritsyuk, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Matias Maccelli, Matthew Coronato, Oliver Kapanen, Ben Kindel, Ryan Leonard, Erik Haula, Matthew Wood, Brock Faber, Mattias Ekholm, Brandt Clarke, Kris Letang, Travis Sanheim, Filip Hronek, Rasmus Andersson, Simon Nemec, Cam Fowler, K'Andre Miller, Jake McCabe, Artyom Levshunov, Hampus Lindholm, Darren Raddysh, Brent Burns, Olen Zellweger, John Klingberg, Radko Gudas, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Esa Lindell, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, Matt Roy, Cam York, Nick Blankenburg, Jordan Spence, Nate Schmidt, Spencer Knight, Jesper Wallstedt, Jakub Dobes, Yaroslav Askarov, Carter Hart, Jake Allen, Tristan Jarry, Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Dan Vladar, Casey DeSmith, David Rittich, Elvis Merzlikins, Akira Schmid
