Top 40 Defensemen: Weekly Fantasy Hockey Rankings (Week 1)

Chase Davis shares his fantasy hockey defensemen rankings for Week 1 of the 2018-2019 NHL season. Follow our weekly rankings for setting your optimal lineups.

Over the course of the 2018-2019 NHL season, RotoBaller will be breaking down our fantasy hockey player rankings by position.

These positional rankings will be updated and posted on a weekly basis, starting with forwards every Sunday, defensemen on Monday, and goaltenders each Tuesday.

Note: Rankings are determined considering a standard Yahoo league format (goals, assists, plus-minus, power play points, shots on goal, and hits for skaters).

Top 40 Defensemen - Fantasy Rankings for Week 1

1. Erik Karlsson (SJS - D)
2. Brent Burns (SJS - D)
3. Victor Hedman (TBL - D)
4. Dustin Byfuglien (WPG - D)
5. Drew Doughty (LAK - D)
6. P.K. Subban (NSH - D)
7. John Klingberg (DAL -D )
8. Roman Josi (NSH - D)
9. John Carlson (WAS - D)
10. Shayne Gostisbehere (PHI - D)
11. Kris Letang (PIT - D)
12. Dougie Hamilton (CGY - D)
13. Tyson Barrie (COL - D)
14. Seth Jones (CBJ -D) *INJ
15. Torey Krug (BOS - D) *INJ
16. Zach Werenski (CBJ - D)
17. Oliver Ekman-Larsson (ARI - D)
18. Rasmus Ristolainen (BUF - D)
19. Charlie McAvoy (BOS - D)
20. Mark Giordano (CGY - D)
21. Ivan Provorov (PHI - D)
22. Morgan Rielly (TOR - D)
23. Keith Yandle (FLA  -D)
24. Alex Pietrangelo (STL - D)
25. Aaron Ekblad (FLA - D)
26. Matt Dumba (MIN - D)
27. Mikael Sergachev (TBL - D)
28. Jake Gardiner (TOR - D)
29. Jake Muzzin (LAK - D)
30. Rasmus Dahlin (BUF - D)
31. Ryan Suter (MIN - D)
32. Justin Faulk (CAR - D)
33. Shea Theodore (VGK - D)
34. Ryan Pulock (NYI - D)
35. Ryan Ellis (NSH - D)
36. Colton Parayko (STL - D)
37. Kevin Shattenkirk (NYR - D)
38. Duncan Keith (CHI - D)
39. Erik Johnson (COL - D)
40. Thomas Chabot (OTT - D)

Stock Report

Fantasy Hockey Risers

Morgan Reilly (TOR - D) - 26 --> 22

It's hard to ignore Reilly's hot start to the 2018-2019 season. The Maple Leafs rearguard has posted six points (two goals, four assists) in his first three contests. Reilly is playing on the Leafs' first pair and appears to be a fixture on the team's dangerous top power play unit (with John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner). In addition, head coach Mike Babcock is putting the 24-year-old defenseman in quite favorable offensive situations as supported by his 63.8% o-zone starts. Considering his 52-point season in 2017-2018, it's not unreasonable to think Reilly could elevate his offensive numbers into the 60-point range this season.

Thomas Chabot (OTT - D) - NR --> 40

With the departure of Erik Karlsson over the offseason, the Senators suddenly were in need of a top-pair, power play quarterbacking defenseman for the first time in nearly a decade. Through three games, Thomas Chabot has done an outstanding job stepping up and grabbing that open role. The former 18th overall selection of the 2015 Draft has gotten off to an explosive start in his second season, posting five points (two goals, three assists) in his first three games. Aside from his highlight reel goals, the 21-year-old is already registering 21:51 of time-on ice, including 2:34 per game on the man advantage. If he happens to be available in your leage (48% owned in Yahoo leagues and trending up), fantasy owners would be smart to scoop up a player with his offensive ceiling.

Fantasy Hockey Fallers

None.

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