Defensemen are generally a lot more difficult to find on the waiver wire, but streamers are a bit easier than long-term solutions. This week there are three options that aren’t too much off the board, but have also been playing solid hockey with lots of opportunities.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Defensemen to Target for Week 11
Bowen Byram, Buffalo Sabres
Bowen Byram is really taking advantage of the opportunity to play a lot with the Buffalo Sabres. This is something he didn’t get with the high-end defense of the Colorado Avalanche. That being said, Byram is averaging 23:20 of ice time per game for the season and is close to 25 minutes per game over the last 20 games.
Byram has four goals and 18 points in 31 games this season. He is a great potential addition while Rasmus Dahlin is out of the lineup as Byram is on the top power-play unit now. He has assists in three consecutive games and shoots, hits, and blocks shots because he also kills penalties. The Sabres play the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins in a back-to-back later this week and then the New York Islanders before we regroup next Wednesday.
Alex Vlasic, Chicago Blackhawks
Alex Vlasic has benefited greatly from the injury to Seth Jones. It isn’t great for the Chicago Blackhawks and nobody wants a teammate to get hurt, but the young defenseman not only now gets top power-play minutes, he still kills penalties and leads the defensive group. Vlasic has two goals and 16 points in 31 games this season before action on Tuesday. He’s playing over two more minutes per game than last season and has already tied his career best in goals and points.
The Blackhawks’ offense is looking like it is going to improve under the new head coach in Chicago and that only benefits Vlasic given the situations he plays in and the time he is on the ice. He has two goals and six points in the last six games and consistently registers shots, hits, and blocks as well. The Blackhawks have easier opponents to close out the week playing the Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames. As a number one defenseman who has performed like this for a while, it may be the last opportunity to add Vlasic to utilize until Jones comes back.
Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
Colton Parayko is not the greatest offensive player, but he is definitely serviceable when looking at the slim pickings on the waiver wire. The veteran St. Louis Blues defender has five goals and 16 points in 32 games. There’s a reason why he made Team Canada, but not all of his skills transfer over to fantasy hockey.
Parayko is the Blues’ number one defenseman and he just got an upgrade in a defense partner with Cam Fowler being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks. Parayko plays on the top penalty-killing unit and is great if there are blocks in your league. He will add shots and hits to the mix, but the larger defenseman plays a ton and has a goal and four points in the last six games. The Blues still face the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers this week.
Related: Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Week 11 Forward Streams
In the regularly limited selection of defensemen to stream each week in fantasy hockey, the hope is that all three selections above outperform expectations and benefit owners who add him. Come back next week for more potential streamers from the back end to get an edge and close out the week in style.