There have been a lot of defensemen performing lately, and not just the ones you expect to be. This broadens the choices for you this week for defensemen to stream as some aren’t just doing well offensively, but in most areas as well. Here’s a look at three of the best streaming options for Week 16.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Defensemen to Target for Week 16
Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning
Darren Raddysh normally plays with Victor Hedman on the top pairing and also gets time on the boosted second power-play unit. Why this has led to his offensive production skyrocketing over the past week and a half, it isn’t the sole reason. He has been in this position for more than just a week, but the high-scoring Tampa Bay Lightning is definitely helping him stay relevant offensively.
Raddysh has scored two goals and recorded six points over the past four games prior to the game against the Montreal Canadiens. Three of those points have come on the power play and he has been shooting, hitting, and blocking shots along with it. The Lightning only play two more times this week against the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, but play the Blackhawks a second time early next week before more defensemen streaming options are released. If it’s a hit defenseman and good matchups you’re looking for, Raddysh is the go-to here.
Mason Lohrei, Boston Bruins
Mason Lohrei hasn’t been particularly quiet this season offensively for a defenseman, but he does have his stretches of games where he shows up and starts appearing on the scoreboard. Lately has been one of those stretches as he has one goal and six points in his last five games. He has produced in four of them and has two multi-point games. The thing that isn’t ideal for Lohrei is the lack of shooting he does, but if he’s hitting the other areas that makes him more successful in fantasy hockey, sometimes we have to take the bad with the good.
While Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm are on the injured reserve, the point position on the top power-play unit has fallen to Lohrei, which adds a good deal of value to him right now. Three of his six points in the past five games have been on the power play. The Boston Bruins are still to play the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, and Colorado Avalanche this week, plus the Buffalo Sabres before next Wednesday. You will get a lot of use out of Lohrei who is getting a good opportunity at the moment and taking advantage of it.
Seth Jones, Chicago Blackhawks
Seth Jones will be a little more rostered overall, but being on the 32nd-place team and being injured for a bit during the season has caused him to become more available. If he hasn’t been picked up off of waivers yet, this is a great opportunity for you to add him to your defense group as he is the number one d-man on the Chicago Blackhawks and is producing like one lately.
Jones is on the top pairing, plays the most out of any other defenseman on the team by a good amount, is on the top power-play unit, and kills penalties. He has recorded a goal and six points over his last four games, and even though the Blackhawks don’t win very often, they don’t get shut out either. Three of those points came on the man advantage and while shooting a fair bit, he is also great at hitting and blocking shots. The Blackhawks match up against the Lightning and Minnesota Wild to close out this week, but then the Lightning again before we choose more defensive streamers.
Related: Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Week 16 Forward Streams
Grab these defensemen while they’re hot as I don’t believe they will stay that way for too long. If they can add value to your team this week before moving on to the next streamer, then great. Be sure to come back at this time next week for more of the top options available to take advantage of.
