This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
We all know Sunday's are for football, but there are still three games on tap in the NHL if you're looking for some Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey action. Since Saturday was a jam-packed with 24 teams competing, Sunday likely will feature a few backup goaltenders, which provide great value for lineups of all contest types. I know, I know, football is on, so I'll get right into things and let you tinker with your lineup a bit more before kickoff.
GOALIE
Antti Raanta, NYR vs. CGY ($29) - Don't let Yahoo fool you, Raanta will be in net when the Rangers play host to the Flames Sunday night. Henrik Lundqvist started Saturday's shootout loss to the Flyers, so Raanta will see action for just the second time this season. All he did in his first start was pitch a 22-save shutout in a 4-0 win against the Sharks. Calgary is still banged up and struggling to find consistency in 2015-16, so Raanta has a decent shot at getting the win. He comes at an affordable price and should make the best of each start, considering there won't be many while Lundqvist is healthy.
Goalie to Avoid:
Darcy Kuemper, MIN vs. WPG ($32) - The Wild have been pretty good at limiting their opponents' shot total this season, which isn't a good thing if your Kuemper in Yahoo Daily contests. Fewer shots mean less points, and since Minnesota has to travel to Winnipeg on the second half of a back-to-back, fatigue likely will be factor. It also doesn't help that the Jets are a top-10 offensive team.
CENTER
Anze Kopitar, LAK vs. EDM ($19) - The Kings are on a roll, and while Kopitar has been quiet this season, he is starting to look more like himself. He scored a nice backhander in Friday's 3-0 win against the Hurricanes and gets a nice matchup against an Oilers team that is young down the middle. Kopitar should have no problem taking advantage of Edmonton's vulnerable defense en route to a productive evening.
Center to Avoid:
Mikael Granlund, MIN vs. WPG ($17) - Granlund is mired in a four-game scoring drought and likely will have to deal with comparable Jets backup Michael Hutchinson, who can be pretty stingy at times. He's been too streaky this season to trust him, especially while playing two days in a row. If you're looking for value plays at center Sunday, your best bet is to pay up for the elite guys rather than going bargain hunting.
WING
Blake Wheeler, WPG vs. MIN ($24) - Wheeler might be the hottest hockey player on the planet. He has four goals and nine points on his way to recording a point in all seven of Winnipeg's games this season. Sometimes you just have to ride the hot hand, and Wheeler is a pretty safe bet to land in the box score against Minnesota.
Marian Gaborik, LAK vs. EDM ($17) - Kopitar's linemate, Gaborik, has struggled to find his scoring touch this season. But, as mentioned, the Kings are starting to play better hockey and that should translate to more production from their elite forwards. If Kopitar has a shot at some points against the Oilers, chances are Gaborik will be involved. He's another veteran who should be able to exploit Edmonton's youth and find the back of the net.
Wings to Avoid:
Taylor Hall, EDM vs. LAK ($21) - Jonathan Quick hasn't been confirmed as the starting goaltender for Los Angeles yet, but he likely will be in net. This is bad news for the Oilers, as Quick is playing like he did during his first run at the Stanley Cup back in 2012. He just made 40 saves in a 3-0 shutout victory over Carolina on Friday, and I have a feeling he wants to stick it to that Connor McDavid kid. So if you're looking for Hall, or any of the Oilers forwards, to do much of anything Sunday, you should probably think twice.
Rick Nash, NYR vs. CGY ($22) - Another season, another Nash slump. So far he's scored just one goal this season, and he didn't even have to take a shot. Nash was hooked on a breakaway toward an empty net Thursday against the Coyotes. We've seen these kinds of droughts with Nash before, especially with the Rangers, so I'm not willing to take a chance on him until he starts to give some consistent production.
DEFENSEMEN
Alec Martinez, LAK vs. WPG ($16) - You're no doubt beginning to sense a trend for Sunday's picks, and it's banked heavily on the Kings. Drew Doughty is the big name on the Los Angeles blue line, but Martinez has come through with some big goals in his career. He saves you some salary and has done a nice job providing secondary stat categories this season; he's averaging two blocks per game and has finished plus-1 in each of his last three games. Martinez has gotten some time on the PP with the hot unit of Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli and Milan Lucic, as well.
Keith Yandle, NYR vs. CGY ($21) - Yandle has a nice little three-game points streak going and is pretty much the only Rangers defenseman who is a significant offensive threat. He will see a lot of power-play ice time, and the Flames haven't been great on the kill this season. New York has a chance to light up the scoreboard at home against Calgary, so expect Yandle to keep his streak going.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Ryan Suter, MIN vs. WPG ($18) - Suter isn't really known for his offense, and the Wild normally run him into the ground over the course of a season. He logged a team-high 24:59 Saturday against the Ducks, so chances are he'll be a step slow against the Jets. His price isn't terribly high, but it also isn't that low for someone that doesn't score many points.
Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. CGY ($18) - The Rangers' captain is yet to record a point this season. Let that sink in real fast. I know, the Flames defense has been susceptible this season, and this might be as good a time as any to throw McDonagh into your lineup, but I'd just rather have a more reliable guy like Yandle in there. McDonagh just isn't a great fantasy option now; he's averaging less than 2.5 points per game in Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey in his last seven games.
