Big Red’s 2017-18 Fantasy Rankings: Defensemen

Here’s my Top 50 Defensemen for the 2017-18 Season

Erik Karlsson OTT
Brent Burns SJ
Victor Hedman TB
Roman Josi NSH
Oliver Ekman-Larsson ARI
P.K. Subban NSH
Shea Weber MTL
Kris Letang PIT
Justin Faulk CAR
Dustin Byfuglien WPG
Dougie Hamilton CGY
Kevin Shattenkirk NYR
Duncan Keith CHI
John Klingberg DAL
Keith Yandle FLA
Mark Giordano CGY
Rasmus Ristolainen BUF
Drew Doughty LA
Shayne Gostisbehere PHI
Zach Werenski CBJ
Cam Fowler ANA
Justin Schultz PIT
Ivan Provorov PHI
Torey Krug BOS
Seth Jones CBJ
John Carlson WSH
Tyson Barrie COL
Aaron Ekblad FLA
Nick Leddy NYI
Ryan Suter MIN
Oscar Klefbom EDM
Alex Pietrangelo STL
Matt Dumba MIN
Colton Parayko STL
Shea Theodore VGK
Brent Seabrook CHI
Mike Green DET
Ryan McDonagh NYR
T.J. Brodie CGY
Jaccob Slavin CAR
Alex Goligoski ARI
Jacob Trouba WPG
Alec Martinez LA
Charlie McAvoy BOS
Matt Niskanen WSH
Sami Vatanen ANA
Noah Hanifin CAR
Damon Severson NJ
Morgan Rielly TOR
Nikita Zaitsev TOR

Sleeper:

Shea Theodore VGK

Even though Theodore is in my top 50, I still consider him a sleeper considering he probably won’t be drafted in most 10 team leagues. The first round pick in 2013 by the Ducks is a potential top 2 defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights. Picked up by Vegas in an expansion draft deal with Anaheim, Theodore couldn’t find consistent playing time with the Ducks crowded blue line. Now on another team with a crowded blue line, albeit with less talent, he should remain with big league squad for a full season if Vegas can pull off a couple trades to free up a spot for him. If this does happen, expect him to play in the top 4 and quarterback one of the power plays for Vegas. The kid has elite potential so put him on your watch list to see if he shows some of that this season.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for weekly fantasy advise and the venting of a Red Wings fan whose team is gonna be god awful this year. Although getting Rasmus Dahlin would make me feel a lot better.