Welcome back everyone! I hope that everyone had a nice and enjoyable Christmas break! We're right in the middle of a short week for fantasy so let's dive right in.

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

Anthony Mantha, RW, Washington Capitals (Rostered in 1% of ESPN leagues, 1% Fantrax, 2% Yahoo) – I feel like once a season now going back a few years, there's always a week where I scan waivers or create a DFS roster and think, "Oh yeah, I forgot about Mantha!" The time has come again, my friends.

To be honest, I really didn't have Mantha on my radar much the past month and it wasn't until the Capitals moved him up to the top power-play unit that piqued my interest. Mantha has five points in his last four games played and is in a good spot to continue to produce on the power play if the Capitals keep their current groupings together. At even strength I don't mind his current line and am high on Connor McMichael as his center, but again this is all dependent that the Capitals keep their liens together which is something to monitor.

Why the Immediate Fix? I think that this is a good spot for the short-term to strike while the iron's hot as well as how this benefits the schedule with the Caps in action four times next week. I do think this add also makes sense for those in smaller or larger leagues if you're roster is in need of an extra winger. For DFS I just personally don't play much Washington, if you're one of the ones who do you are a braver soul than me.

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

Anders Lee, C/LW, New York Islanders (Rostered in 10% of ESPN leagues, 38% Fantrax, 32% Yahoo) – This makes me smile writing this, as Lee has been a player that I've rooted for over the years and one that I at one time would usually have on my team in my main league. In the past I know I've wrote him up as an Anchor but this season things may have shifted from him as a player that remains on waivers, to one that could make for a good addition to your team.  

I watch a lot of Islanders hockey, and I mean a LOT of Isles, and have done so for the past four or five seasons now. I need my adopted East Coast team to go along with my late-night West Coast club. Just watching them this season, their second line was hands down their best line, and while I do think that's still the case, moving Lee up to the Isles top line has changed the way this club has played and opened things up for them as well on offense. If there's been one attribute for Lee even with his struggles the past two seasons, be it from injuries or age, he has always been great for the hits/blocked shots which is fantastic for those you play in category leagues. Add the scoring that he at one point provided as well and I think you could have a nice piece to your fantasy roster.

Lee has five points in his last four games played and if he continues to work on the top line with Mat Barzal and my guy Bo Horvat than I could see him carrying a high secondary assist rate throughout the rest of the regular season. The only red flag that I feel like I have to make mention here is last season Lee was in a similar position on the Isles top line but was often benched during the last few minutes of games. This may be a warning for DFS more than fantasy, but it is something to consider if the Islanders go back to a different lineup in crunch.

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

Scott Wedgewood, G, Dallas Stars (Rostered in 15% of ESPN leagues, 44% Fantrax, 44% Yahoo) – My guy Wedgewood gets the nod for the Odd Man out this week…and maybe next, so long as Jake Oettinger remains week-to-week.

While Oettinger recovers from the lower-body injury he sustained, I do think Wedgewood is a good option to have in net for fantasy as the Stars are definitely going to look his way for starts while Oettinger is on the shelf. So far this season Wedgewood has been good with a 9-2-2 record carrying a .905 SV% and looked fine in his last game out against St. Louis, even though he ended up getting the loss in that contest.  

I think the play here is easy to follow, keep Wedgewood on your bench until we hear otherwise and lucky for us, we'll know something pertaining to Oettinger's injury at some point, likely at a morning skate. If Oettinger is skating with the club, that's an encouraging sign but first one-off during morning skate is all the indication we need that he's healthy and ready to start. For now, I anticipate Wedgewood to not only be a public golf course in Plainfield IL (which it is), but to also get the start today versus Chicago. Beyond that, it will be keeping up with Injury Ward as well as GoaliePost for any news that may break.

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

Chandler Stephenson, C, Vegas Golden Knights (Rostered in 49% of ESPN leagues, 65%, Fantrax, 24% Yahoo) – My fantasy club sustained some injuries early on in the season which forced me to add a player during that time. I had gone to Stephenson as he's been a good fantasy player for the past two or three seasons. It was evident early on that maybe something was up this season as his even-strength play wasn't what it was as well as his power-play production. I think we've now gone far enough into the season to give Stephenson the Anchor.   

Stephenson is still a player that I do like and if your club was like mine with injuries, I think you could do a lot worse than rostering him, but for the long-term I'm just not sure it's a viable option right now. He has no points in his last four games played and has seen his offense take a bit of a slide. Stephenson carried a shots on goal per 60 of 2.5 the past two seasons that is now down to 1.9 with lower even-strength shooting to go along with it.

As we go on throughout the season there may be a time to circle back to Stephenson, but for now the offensive production isn't what we've come to see with him going back a couple season. For DFS he's currently skating on the Vegas second line which means if you play him or any part to that line, it's you and every frog, dog, and log that will also looking to be "unique" playing Vegas2. I speak only from experience. 

Love ‘Em (These squads are sure to pay dividends in the coming days)
This period runs through December 29 – January 10

Washington – As we listed above, the Caps are in action four rimes next week and are a Love 'Em for me. Although it's a tougher stretch playing New Jersey, Carolina, and Los Angeles in the back end of next week they will at least be on home ice for each contest.

Dallas – We're goin’ on the second straight week with Dallas as a Love 'Em and it's both schedule and games played driven. This club will still see Chicago twice as well as a game next week against Montreal.

Winnipeg – I can't really figure this Winnipeg club out at all, sound off Jets fans is this one of the more confusing clubs we have in the league right now? Regardless, they're a Love 'Em this week with a loaded schedule upcoming where they'll hit a stretch of five games in seven days.

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

Edmonton – Sorry everyone out there with an Oiler or two in fantasy, Edmonton is only in action twice next week. They're a Leave 'Em for now.

Buffalo – Sometimes I think Buffalo will be playing in the East Finals and sometimes I think they'll be right in the mix for a high pick. Next week we won't learn much more as the Sabres only have two games on their schedule.  

St. Louis – Had to search again for a Leave 'Em but ultimately landed on St. Louis as the Blues will only be in action next week on a day where we have 13 games and a day where we have 12. They'll be buried on those slates for sure, they're a Leave 'Em for the time being.

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