Fantasy Defensemen Rankings: Werenski vs. Makar and the New Blue-Line Elite

The blue line has been flipped on its head this season, with Zach Werenski pushing past the usual suspects to sit atop the fantasy defensemen pile. That doesn’t mean you should panic-sell Cale Makar, but it does change how you should value elite defensemen in trades and rest-of-season planning. With names like Quinn Hughes and Jakob Chychrun also reshaping the landscape, it’s time to recalibrate your rankings and decide who to buy, hold, or aggressively add.

What’s New & Why It Matters

Werenski has emerged as the top-scoring defenseman, outpacing even the usual fantasy kingpins. For a position where elite production is scarce, that kind of surge has massive trade implications. He’s not just riding a hot week; his overall profile across goals, assists, shots, hits, blocks, and special-teams work supports a true top-tier status.

Makar, meanwhile, hasn’t fallen off a cliff—he’s simply been passed in raw production. His usage and role remain elite, which keeps him safely in the top group of defensemen. The gap between Werenski and Makar is more about who’s slightly ahead than who’s trustworthy.

Quinn Hughes is the big context riser. Slotted into a more dangerous offense with the Minnesota Wild, he’s now surrounded by more finishers and better power-play support. That boosts his assist ceiling and makes his current pace more believable.

Jakob Chychrun is the goals specialist of the group. On the Washington Capitals, he leads all defensemen in goals, which is a rare and extremely valuable edge at the position—especially in formats that reward goals and shots more heavily than pure assists.

Under the hood, these rankings are driven by expected fantasy points that blend scoring categories: goals, assists, shots, hits, blocked shots, and special-teams contributions. That means we’re not just reacting to box scores; we’re looking at sustainable roles and category coverage, which is exactly what you should be doing when making trade and roster decisions.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only leagues, Werenski’s rise is the headline. He’s producing like a true anchor piece on defense, and the fact that he’s currently leading in points among defensemen suggests his team’s offense is running heavily through him. If you can acquire him without giving up a foundational forward, he’s a justifiable centerpiece in a 2-for-1 or 3-for-2 deal. Use the NHL Trade Analyzer to sanity-check any blockbuster offers.

Makar should be treated as a classic buy-low hold. His reputation and track record mean managers are unlikely to give him away, but some may be rattled by Werenski’s edge in the standings. You don’t move Makar unless you’re getting another true elite back; otherwise, you simply enjoy the steady production and upside.

Hughes becomes a high-upside swing in points-only formats. The more potent Minnesota offense raises his assist and power-play point ceiling, and if that unit stays hot, Hughes can flirt with the top tier of scoring defensemen. He’s the type of player you target if you’re chasing in the standings and need a higher-variance, high-reward blue-liner.

Chychrun’s value in points-only hinges on whether your scoring system rewards goals more heavily than assists. Since he leads defensemen in goals, any format that tilts toward goals, game-winners, or shots on goal pushes him up the board. Even in balanced systems, his goal-scoring makes him a strong D2 with D1 weeks when the puck is going in.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, Werenski’s appeal goes beyond points. His shot volume, potential for hits and blocks, and heavy special-teams role make him a category monster. He doesn’t need to win every category; he just needs to be strong across the board, which he is. That’s why he’s such a strong trade target—he smooths out weekly variance.

Makar remains a cornerstone in categories. Even if he’s slightly behind Werenski in raw points, his combination of offense and peripheral production keeps him near the top of any rankings list. Treat him as a rock-solid hold: you only move him if the return clearly improves your category balance.

Hughes is more of a finesse option. His primary contributions will be assists and power-play points, with less emphasis on hits and blocks. In leagues that heavily weight banger stats, he’s more of a luxury than a necessity, but in formats that prioritize PPP and pure scoring, he can be a difference-maker. Build your roster around his strengths—pair him with more physical defensemen or forwards who can carry your hits and blocks.

Chychrun is a great fit for categories managers who need goals from the blue line. His shot volume and scoring touch give you a unique edge in goals and shots from a defense slot. If he also chips in hits and blocks, he becomes a premium multi-cat asset; even if he doesn’t, the goal-scoring alone can swing matchups.

Dynasty / Keeper

In dynasty and keeper formats, Werenski’s breakout as a top-scoring defenseman forces a re-evaluation of long-term rankings. He’s clearly shown he can carry a heavy offensive load, and that kind of role tends to age well. If his manager still views him as a tier below the absolute elite, this is the time to pay up before that perception fully catches up.

Makar’s long-term outlook remains elite. One season where he’s chased by Werenski doesn’t change the fact that he’s one of the safest, highest-ceiling defensemen in the league. In keepers, you don’t downgrade him; you simply expand the top tier to include Werenski alongside him.

Hughes is an intriguing long-term piece because his value is tied to the trajectory of Minnesota’s offense. If the Wild continue to build a strong core around him, he could be a perennial top-10 fantasy defenseman in points-only and PPP-heavy formats. In dynasty, he’s a strong hold or trade target if your league undervalues assists-first defensemen.

Chychrun’s dynasty value is tied to whether he can sustain his goal-scoring role with Washington. A defenseman who consistently leads or challenges for the goal lead at his position is a rare asset. If your league rewards goals heavily, he’s worth a premium; if not, he’s still a strong keeper, but not someone you overpay for at the expense of more balanced producers.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Zach Werenski – Trade target (all leagues): Currently leading defensemen in points and contributing across categories, making him worth paying up for in trades.
Cale Makar – Hold / trade for (all leagues): Still an elite, steady producer; target if his manager is spooked by Werenski’s surge.
Quinn Hughes – Watchlist to add (standard and deep): Benefiting from a more potent Minnesota offense, with rising assist and power-play upside.
Jakob Chychrun – Add (points-only and goal-weighted formats): Leads defensemen in goals, giving you a rare scoring edge from the blue line.

Fantasy Takeaways

Werenski has pushed himself into the very top tier of fantasy defensemen and should be aggressively targeted in trades if the price is reasonable.
Makar remains a set-and-forget cornerstone; don’t overreact to Werenski’s lead by selling him short.
Hughes’ move into a more dangerous Minnesota offense raises his ceiling, making him a prime watchlist or buy-low candidate.
Chychrun’s league-leading goal total among defensemen makes him a must-add in formats that reward goals and shots.
Use multi-category impact—not just raw points—to separate true elite defensemen from short-term hot streaks when making trade and keeper decisions.

Source: ESPN.com. See the original for full details.