Weekly Fantasy Hockey Category Targets: Granlund, O’Reilly, Ingram and More

This week is all about squeezing every last category out of your roster. With schedule quirks, injuries and hot streaks in play, managers who target specific needs instead of chasing big names can gain ground fast. The players below aren’t universal must-starts, but they line up nicely for scoring, power-play exposure, peripherals and short-week streaming value. Use them to patch holes, win tight matchups and prepare for the stretch run.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The common thread this week is opportunity meeting role. Mikael Granlund has carved out a top-six, power-play role for the Anaheim Ducks while carrying multi-position eligibility, which makes him a flexible plug-in wherever you’re thin. Ryan O'Reilly remains locked into a top-line, PP1 role for the Nashville Predators, quietly piling up points and elite faceoff wins that many managers overlook.

On the wing, Mason Marchment has landed on a scoring line for the Columbus Blue Jackets, with secondary power-play work that adds sneaky category juice. Mats Zuccarello continues to drive playmaking from the top line and first power-play unit for the Minnesota Wild, making him a prime target if you’re chasing assists and power-play points.

In net, Connor Ingram is positioned as the starting option for the Edmonton Oilers. With injury issues around him and a strong offense in front, his path to more starts and solid ratios makes him an ideal short-term streamer in leagues that reward wins and save percentage. With all of these players, the key is matching their strengths to your specific weekly needs and leveraging schedule edges where they play more games than your opponents.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

If you’re chasing raw scoring this week, focus on forwards in stable top-six roles with power-play access. Granlund’s combination of top-six deployment and PP1 time for Anaheim gives him a solid floor in assists with enough scoring touch to matter in points-only formats. His multi-position eligibility is a bonus, letting you squeeze in extra games on busy slates.

O’Reilly remains a classic underappreciated points-only asset. As Nashville’s top-line center with first-unit power-play duties, he’s involved in most of the Predators’ primary scoring chances. Even when he isn’t lighting the lamp himself, he racks up primary and secondary assists by touching the puck on nearly every offensive-zone sequence.

Marchment offers more goal-heavy upside from Columbus’ top line. If you’re behind in goals or game-winners, his current scoring form and usage with skilled linemates make him a high-variance, high-reward play. Zuccarello, by contrast, is the safer assist specialist. His chemistry with Minnesota’s top offensive talent and PP1 quarterback role on the flank give him a strong chance to collect multiple helpers in any given week.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category leagues, O’Reilly jumps from solid to premium. His elite faceoff volume is a cheat code in formats that count draws, and his steady shot volume plus respectable physical play make him a multi-cat contributor. If your league rewards faceoff wins, he’s closer to a must-roster than a streamer.

Granlund won’t carry you in hits, but his ability to contribute across assists, power-play points and occasional goals makes him a strong glue guy for category builds. He’s especially helpful if you need to shore up special-teams production without sacrificing flexibility at center, left wing or right wing.

Marchment is the more traditional bangers-friendly option. As a top-line winger with secondary power-play time, he can chip in goals and shots while also bringing a physical element. In leagues counting hits and possibly penalty minutes, he offers a blend of scoring and grit that’s hard to find on the wire.

Zuccarello is less about bangers and more about finesse. His value spikes in leagues that separate out assists, power-play points and even plus-minus when Minnesota is rolling. Pair him with a more physical winger if you’re trying to balance out your category profile.

In net, Ingram’s main appeal is volume plus efficiency. As Edmonton’s starter, he’s positioned to collect wins behind a strong offense, while his save percentage keeps you competitive in ratios. If your opponent is weak in goalie categories or rolling a backup-heavy setup, streaming Ingram for a strong week of starts can swing wins, saves and percentages in your favor.

Dynasty / Keeper

Most of these names are better suited to win-now moves than long-term building blocks, but there are still angles for dynasty and keeper managers. Granlund’s value in keepers comes from his role and versatility: as long as he’s in a top-six, PP1 situation, he can serve as a reliable depth piece on contending rosters, especially in deeper formats.

O’Reilly is on the veteran side, but his game ages well because it’s built on hockey IQ, two-way play and faceoff dominance rather than pure speed. In multi-cat dynasty leagues that count draws, he remains a viable hold for contenders even as his raw scoring slowly tapers off over time.

Marchment is more of a medium-term swing. If he sticks on a scoring line in Columbus with consistent power-play usage, he can outproduce his name value for another year or two. That makes him an interesting trade chip: you can either ride the production on a contender or float him using the NHL Trade Analyzer to see if someone in your league will pay up for his current role.

Zuccarello is firmly in win-now territory. His top-line, PP1 role in Minnesota keeps him fantasy-relevant, but his long-term outlook is tied to how long he remains in that prime deployment. He’s an ideal short-term add for contenders but not someone you need to protect aggressively in shallow keepers.

Ingram is the most intriguing dynasty piece of the group. A clear starting role on a high-powered Edmonton team gives him a chance to cement himself as more than just a streamer. If he holds the crease and maintains strong ratios, he can graduate into a long-term No. 2 fantasy goalie with upside, especially in leagues that reward volume starts.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Mikael Granlund – Add (scoring/PP exposure): Top-six, PP1 role in Anaheim with multi-position eligibility makes him a flexible source of assists and power-play points in standard and deep leagues.
Ryan O’Reilly – Add (scoring/peripherals): Locked into Nashville’s top line and PP1 while piling up faceoff wins and steady points; a priority add in categories formats that count draws.
Mason Marchment – Add (goals/bangers): Scoring-line winger for Columbus with secondary power-play time and a physical edge, ideal if you need goals, shots and some hits.
Mats Zuccarello – Add (assists/PP exposure): Top-line, PP1 playmaker in Minnesota who can quickly boost your assists and power-play categories, especially in points-heavy setups.
Connor Ingram – Short-term stream (goalie volume): Starting goalie for Edmonton with a path to multiple starts this week, giving you a shot at wins and solid save percentage in matchup play.

Fantasy Takeaways

Target Granlund if you need flexible scoring and power-play help; his multi-position eligibility makes maximizing games played easier.
O’Reilly is a premium add in category leagues that count faceoff wins, offering steady points plus elite peripherals down the middle.
Stream Ingram when you need short-term goalie volume and ratios, especially in weeks where Edmonton has a busy schedule.
Marchment is your go-to if you’re chasing goals and a bit of physicality from a top-line winger with secondary power-play usage.
Zuccarello is a strong add for managers hunting assists and power-play points from a stable top-line role.

Source: RotoWire. See the original for full details.