Weekly Fantasy Waiver Wire: Wedgewood, Faulk and Tiered Targets by Team Need

This week’s waiver wire is driven by two big themes: managers chasing hot goaltending from Scott Wedgewood and looking for steady blue-line scoring from Justin Faulk. Instead of a generic add/drop list, let’s sort the top trends by what your roster actually needs: scoring punch, power-play exposure, peripherals, or short-week streaming help.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The most-added list is heavy on goalies and power-play specialists. Scott Wedgewood has surged thanks to strong recent outings, making him a popular solution for managers tired of volatile crease situations. On defense, Justin Faulk is quietly climbing rosters because he keeps contributing and offers a stable floor from the back end.

Beyond those names, managers are reacting quickly to players gaining or losing power-play roles. Skaters who secure PP1 time are being streamed aggressively, while underperformers without special-teams usage are getting cut to free space. Understanding these shifts—and how they intersect with this week’s schedule—lets you target the right category of player instead of chasing last week’s boxscores.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, your priority is simple: bank reliable scoring. That’s where someone like Justin Faulk becomes especially valuable. His appeal isn’t just the occasional multi-point night; it’s that he consistently chips in from the blue line, which is harder to replace than a streaky middle-six winger. If he’s seeing regular power-play usage and top-four minutes, he’s the kind of defender you plug in and forget.

Power-play specialists who have carved out PP1 roles are also prime targets. Even if their even-strength deployment is modest, the chance to touch the puck with the man advantage raises their assist and secondary-point upside. In points-only leagues, it’s often better to roster a PP1 specialist with modest ice time than a five-on-five grinder with no special-teams role.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category leagues, Scott Wedgewood stands out as a high-impact add. Strong recent play means he can help in wins, save percentage, and goals-against, and any stretch of stability in net is gold in categories formats. Even if his team isn’t elite, a hot goalie with a decent workload can swing weekly matchups.

On skater side, power-play specialists still matter, but you should prioritize those who also contribute in shots, hits, or blocks. A defenseman who sees PP1 time and blocks shots can be a multi-cat monster, while a forward on the top unit who also shoots a lot can buoy goals, SOG, and PPP. Conversely, underperforming players who don’t offer hits, blocks, or special-teams value are prime drop candidates; hanging on too long just blocks you from grabbing the next emerging contributor.

Dynasty / Keeper

In dynasty and keeper formats, the lens shifts from short bursts of production to sustainable roles. A veteran like Justin Faulk is more of a steadying presence than a long-term building block, but his consistent role can help bridge gaps while younger defensemen develop. He’s worth holding if your blue line is thin, but not a must-stash if you’re rebuilding and need roster spots for upside swings.

For goalies like Scott Wedgewood, the key question is whether his current surge translates into a lasting share of the crease. In most dynasty setups, he profiles as a short- to medium-term option rather than a franchise cornerstone. That still has value—especially if he’s earning more starts—but you should be careful not to overcommit future assets for a goalie whose role could shift quickly.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Scott Wedgewood – Add (standard/categories): Riding strong recent performances, he’s a priority add for managers needing goalie depth and short-term stability in the crease.
Justin Faulk – Add (points-only and deep categories): A steady source of blue-line scoring with consistent usage, making him a low-drama plug-and-play defender.
PP1 Power-Play Specialist Winger – Short-term stream: Any winger newly locked into PP1 is worth streaming this week to chase assists and PPP while the role holds.
PP1 Quarterback Defenseman – Add/Watch (deep leagues): A defenseman running the top power play can quietly rack up points and blocks, ideal for deeper category formats.
Physical Third-Pair Defenseman with PK Time – Watchlist (bangers): If you’re chasing hits and blocks, a low-scoring but physical defender with steady minutes can be a sneaky weekly swing.
Underperforming Non-PP Forward – Drop: If a forward isn’t scoring, doesn’t hit, and has no special-teams role, it’s time to cut and chase higher-upside options.

Fantasy Takeaways

Lean into Wedgewood’s hot streak: Scott Wedgewood is a strong add for managers needing wins and rate stats, especially in categories leagues.
Secure stable blue-line scoring: Justin Faulk offers reliable production from defense, particularly valuable in points-only formats.
Prioritize PP1 exposure: Streaming skaters with top-unit power-play roles is one of the most efficient ways to spike short-term scoring.
Don’t cling to low-impact names: Underperformers without hits, blocks, or PP usage should be dropped to open spots for trending options.
Match moves to your needs: Focus your waiver claims on the category you’re weakest in—scoring, PP points, peripherals, or short-week streaming—rather than chasing every hot name.

To better understand how to evaluate power-play roles when making these decisions, check out our guide on how to value PP1 time, and for deeper dives into individual players, see the fantasy outlook for Scott Wedgewood and the fantasy outlook for Justin Faulk.

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