Welcome back all! We finally have a 'normal' week for fantasy on the eve of a week where it's going to be more schedule issues. If there's one thing, I've tried to do here in the early going this season it's to really look at my fantasy team based off what I've seen so and not so much leaning on my main league's win/loss record. It's a fantasy issue we're all trying to navigate but in weeks like the previous and upcoming, it really does feel like playing darts with someone when you have three darts, and the other person has seven. I think the opposite also applies; your club might have gotten a lot of schedule luck to start the season where the numbers might not end up as inflated as they are right now. Regardless, we'll try our best here to set your fantasy club up with success here moving forward.

The Immediate Fix (Grab this guy and use him for the next several days)

Brayden Schenn, C, St.Louis Blues (Rostered in 6% of ESPN leagues, 50% Fantrax, 32% Yahoo) –
I believe I wrote up Brayden Schenn in the last Looking Ahead of last season as a potential Anchor. Maybe the long-term value won't be there come that time this season, but I can't deny that he can help your fantasy club here coming up.

I took a look at the fool-proof, never-lost, 100% success rate idea of adding a player that plays twice more this week and will play in four games next week. That list got short quick but if anyone's interested in a player who fits that mold, umm, Ivan Provorov? Sure, Ivan Provorov. Many hits. Many blocks. PP2 for Columbus. 

But for a better alternative can I offer you Brayden Schenn? Schenn was a player that I would usually target late in drafts in the 2016-19 range and his play from then to now is somewhat similar. The offense has surly declined but he's still a player that can help with your peripherals if your club is in need. So why now with Schenn? Besides the Blues being in action four times next week, his role has changed up for the Blues. He's getting second line center duty with Jordan Kyrou and centering the St. Louis too PP unit. The Blues went to this format two games ago and since then he has three points and has so far looked good in this role.

At even strength I love that he's with Jordan Kyrou, not so much Brandon Saad. The puck seems to just stop once it gets on his stick, but I'll overlook it for the PP exposure and two-man with Kyrou. 

The Building Block (Buy now, sit back and enjoy the production)

Erik Gustafsson, D, New York Rangers (Rostered in 10% of ESPN leagues, 50% Fantrax, 26% Yahoo) – Sometimes in fantasy injuries happen and we have to look at the replacement player. In the case of the Rangers the injured player is Adam Fox, the replacement is Blackhawks legend Erick Gustafsson.

The Rangers have had a litany of injuries in the past week and some change but so far, the players that have stepped up in absences have been good, Gustafsson being one of them. Maybe not jump off the page even strength numbers, this is an add for the Rangers top power play unit that he now finds himself in the Fox role. With four points in the past three games, I like this as an add to make while Fox is sidelined.

As far as timing for this add you could for sure go ahead and make a claim now or wait a week. Usually, I would never recommend waiting on making a claim to lose the player but just looking at the Rangers schedule, they only play once next week, and you could be burning a claim on a player that won't see much action here upcoming. Long term, I like the add but it's a question of when this addition makes sense for your fantasy team.

The Odd–Man Out (His short-term value is cause for concern)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers (Rostered in 94% of ESPN leagues, 99% Fantrax, 97% Yahoo) – We can go down the rabbit hole of all things that could be wrong with the Oilers but for now we need to shine a light on this week's Odd-Man out. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, come on down.

First here, I want to say something to ease the minds of Oilers fans and that's that this is the same club post-deadline last season, and I just can't see with how much offense they generate being down for too long. Breathe in, breathe out. Woosa captain, remember your pressure points. RNH though for fantasy is an odd-man out and that's just maybe where the circumstances find him.

Would RNH be the first-line center? Not on this club as long as #97 is healthy. Second line at times sure when the Oilers stack their top line of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Rostered Right now though, Nugent-Hopkins is the third line center on this club, and sure the top power play center role is an excellent spot to be in, but it leaves much to be desired 5v5. At even strength as well, Evander Kane is a decent player to have in fantasy for all that he brings, but in reality, at least give my guy RNH Warren Foegele. I can't see at this point that he is a worse option at LW for this club right now.

The Anchors (They’ll do nothing but disappoint even over the long haul)

Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, Calgary Flames (Rostered in 63% of ESPN leagues, 84%, Fantrax, 52% Yahoo) – Let's be honest, we all saw this coming, right? Maybe not to this extent but I think now's the perfect time to move off Jonathan Huberdeau if you're rostering him.

Coming into the season I sort of thought this Calgary club that could just control play with a decent blue line to help Jacob Marsktrom bounce back this season. So far, none of this has been the case as every day when I see the lineups at morning skate, I'm just more and more discouraged on this Flames club. That came to a head the other night as Jonathan Huberdeau was benched for the third period. I get it, you have to send a message somehow but it's not what we want to see for those still holding on rostering him in fantasy.

I took a look back at my main leagues draft and Huberdeau was selected in the 13^th round (out of 14), pick number eight out of 12, and I feel like in most leagues that's about the range that he probably came off the board. Right now, in that same league I could go add him to my roster, and like so many others out there, I'll keep it moving. I know I've written about Huberdeau in the past and have mentioned that I thought the 115-point season where he led the NHL in assists might have been an outlier, but I still thought he could help contribute in fantasy. Maybe in the neighborhood of 50-53 points the way the season has gone thus far, and even that might be a stretch.

Love ‘Em (These squads are sure to pay dividends in the coming days)

This period runs through November 10^th – November 22^nd

Anaheim – This is the first fun Ducks club I've been able to watch in a while and for a club that's in an early playoff mix, they're a Love 'Em for next week. They'll be tested with games against Colorado and Arizona in the middle of next week, but they're a club that will be in action twice to finish off this week and four times next.

Florida – Why is Florida a Love 'Em? Home Chicago this Sunday, with the following game on the road against San Jose next Tuesday.

NY Islanders – The Islanders will get their Western Canada/Seattle road trip out of the way now which will only help their schedule later on down the road. The Blackhawks used to do the same in November and while it was difficult time get through that road stand, it really opened up the schedule later on in the season. I do still like the Isles here in the short-term with four games and will be a Love 'Em for the time being.

Leave ‘Em (These squads will leave fantasy owners sorely disappointed in the short term)

Minnesota – Rostering a Wild player or two? Can't wait to stack "new" Minnesota1 in DFS? Well, it's going to have to wait until next weekend. The Wild don't play a single game during the week next week and it's only the third biggest fantasy killer that we have as a Leave 'Em.

Ottawa – Two weeks ago, Ottawa had a two-game week which was difficult to manage as I would put them up there as one of the higher rostered clubs in fantasy. Next week, it'll be the same as the Sens are in action just twice. Maybe a get right spot for them, but for fantasy it's a tough break.

NY Rangers – The Rangers play just once next week. Once. I have nothing left to say here, stay hot NHL schedule.

*For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.