[Market Buzz] Top 10 Roto Players - Half Season

[GMGates]

Introducing the Market Buzz - this new series will feature anything and everything about the fantasy market value of players (performances, streaks, bargains etc...) The first article follows the model of the "Top 100 Roto Players" list, a feature once posted by Chris Boyle here on DobberHockey.

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These rankings are not on a projected basis. They are based on who actually performed the best in the roto categories amongst all NHL skaters through the first xxxx months of the season.

Please remember this is the result of weighing all categories equally, which rotisserie rankings do. Being number one in goal scoring is the same as being number one in penalty minutes. The top 100 favours skaters as they occupy 60 percent of the scoring categories, but dominant goaltenders are recognized. Positional importance slightly impacts the rankings when a tie breaker or split decision is necessary. Players who have picked up the pace in the last month are also recognized in this respect.

* This roto list does not include Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin because in a draft there is no discussing on who goes top 2.

~

GMG's Market Buzz:
Top 10 Roto Players @ Half Season

Skater Categories: G, A, +/-, PIM, PPP, SOG
Goalie Categories: GAA, SV%, W, SO

1 Corey Perry - ANA, RW

To no surprise Perry takes the #1 spot on the roto ranker list. He is the perfect model of a roto stud. The only stat that dents Perry's armour is his +/-, but his peripherals more than make up for it. If you want to win and win now, this is the guy that will help you do that. Hands down the best RW to own in roto leagues and should be treated as such.

82 game pace: 38G, 43A, +7, 145 PIM, 267 SOG, 29 PPP

2 Dustin Byfuglien - ATL, D/RW

Byfuglien is a freak of nature. This season he silenced all critics by putting up consistent numbers and hasn't slowed down to date. Let's face it, there's a new multicat D-stud in the league and he's taken a page right out of Pronger's book. It's amazing to see a guy going unpicked in some leagues to being the best roto defensemen so far this season - to that I tip my hat. Having the D/RW eligibility is mighty fine too and one of the reasons why Byfuglien (slightly) edges out our next player.

82 game pace: 29G, 45A, +12, 82 PIM, 333 SOG (2nd behind AO), 32 PPP

3 Steven Stamkos - TBL, C

Rounding out the top three is Stammer. On pace for 59 goals (good for 2nd behind Crosby) and 47 PPP (1st), the only thing stopping this super stud is his PIMs. Technically Stamkos should be at top of the list, although in roto it doesn't always work that way. His PIMs (53rd), bring his overall average down. At the end of the day Stamkos is a top 5 in any draft so this bronze medal finish won't tarnish his image.

82 game pace: 59G, 50A, +17, 64 PIM, 297 SOG, 47PPP

4 Kristopher Letang - PIT, D

The three headed D-Monster in Pittsburgh has clearly been put to an end - at least so far this season it has. At first glance, Letang's numbers don't seem to warrant him 4th on the list, but his overall rotisserie stats are neck to neck with Ovechkin's (AO beats him by 1 roto point). What a season Letang's having, you'll have a hard time trying to pry this lad from his owner so it's definitely best to wait it out.

82 game pace: 11G, 57A, +40 (3rd), 95 PIM, 246 SOG, 25 PPP

5 Tim Thomas - BOS, G

The only goalie to make it to the top ten is one that was either undrafted in many leagues to start the season or drafted with the intention of having the ex-vezina as a backup with hopes of stealing the job from Rask. Most GMs gave up on Thomas (like many have done in the past). This only fuelled him to better himself yet again and well, he has far from disappointed. To date Tim is hands down the leading Vezina tender, and with his current numbers, there's no stopping him. Congrats to those who stuck by him and to those who had faith in him - you have been well rewarded.

58 start pace (BOS @ 41gp): 37W, 10SO, .946 SV%, 1.77 GAA

6 Daniel Sedin - VAN, LW

If you're wondering why Daniel is in the top 10 and Henrik isn't even an honourable mention, it's because D. Sedin has much better peripherals and better all around roto stats. See while Henrik is 1st in assists, he's only 17th in goals and 73rd in SOG while brother Daniel is 3rd, 7th & 31st respectively. On top of that, Daniel is a LW which out trumps a C in any format other than points only. So even though Henrik won the Hart last season, picking him over Daniel in a roto league is just foolish (minus predicting a freak injury).

82 game pace: 50G, 57A, +32, 28 PIM, 248 SOG, 46 PPP

7 Daniel Briere - PHI, RW

Danny Briere landing in the top 10 is surprising to even myself but his stats don't lie. He's been quietly (unless you own him) putting up great roto numbers. Interestingly, Briere is on pace for his best year as a Flyer and career numbers in Goals, +/- and PIMs. Looking at his career, it must be frustrating owning him - passed the salary he's been very inconsistent in most roto categories. Regardless he's on fire this season so enjoy it!

82 game pace: 46G, 32A, +40, 112 PIM, 284 SOG, 19 PPP

8 Ryan Kesler - VAN, C

Kesler surges up the roto list being the highest producing rotisserie player in the last month. Ryan got on the radar of many poolies by finishing just out of the top 20 last year in standard roto leagues (like Yahoo!). Kesler's quickly establishing his place among the roto leaders and with another career season in the making, he's the real deal.

82 game pace: 46G, 34A, +34, 76 PIM, 258 SOG, 32 PPP

9 Henrik Zetterberg - DET, C/LW

When healthy Henrik is a force on any team, since the 05-06 season (409 games) he's recorded 437 points. Simply said, you know what you get when you draft Zetterberg. That PPG pace hasn't stopped this season and other than his PIMs, he has some solid stats across the board. It's good to know that even when Datsyuk and others are out, Henrik doesn't skip a beat. His C/LW eligibility is definitely icing on the cake.

Having the 82 game pace: 29G, 62A, +23, 39 PIM, 343 SOG, 29 PPP

10 Brad Richards - DAL, C

Brad Richards gets slightly beat out by Zetterberg due to Henrik's C/LW. Richards is a risk / reward player because you never know what you're going to get. Kudos to those that drafted him based on his stats last year because he's on pace for a career season in all multiple roto categories including points.

82 game pace: 34G, 59A, +17, 38 PIM, 309 SOG, 38 PPP

Honourable Mentions: (no particular order)
St. Louis, Lidstrom, Sharp, Enstrom, Price, Lundqvist

GMG signing off!

[GMGates]

Jan 12th - Kris Letang update:

~ Letang continues to dominate tallying 3A, 2 PPP and 3 SOG tonight vs. MTL

~ He is now on pace (82 games) for : 13G, 60A, +36, 95 PIM, 27 PPP and 241 SOG

~ At 45 games played, Letang is 4th in the league in both assists and +/-.

[GMGates]

Jan 12th - Bobby Ryan surge.

~ With a monster performance (3G, 1A, 1 PPP, 2 PIM, 4 SOG), Ryan has been job shadowing Perry.

~ Bobby's on pace (82 games) for a respectable 37G, 25A, +16, 80 PIM, 298 SOG and 9 PPP.

~ On the verge of making his way into Top Ten, Ryan needs to bump up his assists and hit the 100 PIMs (pace) mark. Both two realistic goals playing along side Perry and Getzlaf.

~ Either way, he's officially an honourable mention.

[Lamothe]

Good Article GMG. Very well written. Good research

[sasquatch]

No Crosby?? I know he's currently out of action but still he surely has to be there.

[metaldude26]

No Crosby?? I know he's currently out of action but still he surely has to be there.

You gotta read the note he inserted before the list. Crosby and OV aren't included because they are mortal locks to be drafted 1/2 in every pool. What's the point on including the hands down best two in the game when you'd learn nothing from their inclusion.

[GMGates]

You gotta read the note he inserted before the list. Crosby and OV aren't included because they are mortal locks to be drafted 1/2 in every pool. What's the point on including the hands down best two in the game when you'd learn nothing from their inclusion.

Correct - my exact thinking. As for their rankings, Perry still has the (roto) nod on Crosby simply due to his pims. Other than that, Sid would easily be top dog. Realistically though, who would pick Perry over Crosby?

As for Ovechkin, he'd surprisingly only slot in 6th - after Thomas / before Daniel. But again, I'd love to see the day Letang gets picked over Ovechkin!

GMG