This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Saturday's NHL slate is a busy one, with 14 games on tap beginning at 1:00 PM Eastern time after the entire league got a day off Friday. There's no shortage of options to choose from, but certain players stand out as options to target or avoid. Read on below to see who falls into which category.
GOALIE
Jack Campbell, LA at OTT ($27): Campbell's been superb for the Kings with Jonathan Quick sidelined by a lower-body injury, posting a 1.35 GAA and .966 save percentage through three starts. At just $27, he's a great value against a Senators team that's off to 1-2-1 start and has been outscored by six goals over its past two games.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Sergei Bobrovsky, CLS at TB ($38): Bobrovsky's been fine in the early going with a 2.53 GAA and .919 save percentage through two starts, but you'd like to see a little more from a $38 player. If anything, his numbers are likely to get worse against the high-powered Lightning offense. Don't be fooled by Tampa Bay's mere three goals through two games, as the Lightning led the league with 3.54 goals per contest in 2017-18.
CENTER
Brett Howden, NYR vs. TB ($16): Howden's riding a three-game point streak, and his ice time has climbed with each game this season to the point where he ranked second among the team's forwards at 17:34 Thursday. The rookie gets a golden opportunity to build even more momentum against an Oilers club that's been outscored 9-3 in its first two games.
CENTER TO AVOID
Steven Stamkos, TB vs. CLS ($26): Bobrovsky may not be worth $38 in this matchup, but he's still one of the league's toughest netminders to beat. Stamkos is off to a slow start with no points, four shots and a minus-1 rating, so getting back on track and living up to a $26 valuation will be difficult for him here.
WINGS
Alex DeBrincat, CHI vs. STL ($24): DeBrincat posted 28 goals and 52 points as a rookie last season, and the 20-year-old winger's on pace for significant improvement as a sophomore. He's racked up four goals and seven points through four games while skating on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit. Look for DeBrincat to stay hot against a Blues team that's surrendered 13 goals through three games, including a two-point night for DeBrincat in a 5-4 Chicago win last Saturday.
Mitch Marner, TOR at WAS ($23): Marner might be getting lost in the shuffle a bit between the hot starts of Auston Matthews and John Tavares, but he's been every bit as effective as his more high-profile teammates. Matthews is tied with Morgan Rielly for the league lead with 12 points through five games, but Tavares and Marner are hot on their heels at 10 points apiece. Marner's the cheapest of the three listed forward options, and they're all set up for success against a Capitals team that's allowed 15 goals in its past three games since shutting out the Bruins on Opening Night.
WINGS TO AVOID
James Neal, CGY at COL ($19): Neal scored his first goal in a Flames uniform Thursday, but the rest of his stats have been underwhelming for a $19 player. He's skated fewer than 17 minutes in each of Calgary's four games this season while posting a minus-2 rating and shooting more than twice in only one contest this season.
Mark Stone, OTT vs. LA ($19): Stone's the most talented offensive player Ottawa has to offer, but he's a major rating risk on a rebuilding Senators team, having racked up a minus-5 mark over the past two games. With his offense likely to be depressed by Los Angeles' stellar defense corps, Stone's low floor is more likely to come into play than his ceiling.
DEFENSEMEN
Justin Schultz, PIT at MON ($19): Both Schultz and Kris Letang have four points in three games, but Schultz is $5 cheaper than his fellow Penguins blueliner. Pittsburgh will be looking to avenge last Saturday's loss to the rebuilding Canadiens here, and Schultz is primed to benefit from his team's high-powered offense without burning a hole in owners' wallets like many of his teammates do.
Matt Grzelcyk, BOS vs. DET ($10): Grzelcyk is getting a golden opportunity on Boston's high-powered top power-play unit with Torey Krug (ankle) sidelined, and he took full advantage Thursday with a pair of power-play points against the Oilers. For a blueliner at the minimum price, Grzelcyk offers terrific upside. That upside is further enhanced by facing a Red Wings team that's winless through four games.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Kevin Shattenkirk, NYR vs. EDM ($18): Whether he's still troubled by the knee injury that prematurely ended his first season on Broadway or simply struggling with his game at the moment, Shattenkirk's opened the season poorly enough to earn a healthy scratch in Thursday's contest. He'll be back in the lineup for this one, but Shattenkirk is hard to trust after posting a minus-4 rating in his first three appearances.
Jacob MacDonald, FLA vs. VAN ($18): MacDonald scored a goal in Florida's first game, but his average ice time of 12:03 suggests he's overpriced at $18. There's plenty of better value to be found in this expansive slate, even with a favorable home matchup on tap here against the Canucks.
