NHL · Defensemen · 2026

Best Fantasy NHL Defensemen to Start in 2026

Live rankings based on recent fantasy performance and injury status. Updated daily. Click any player for a full start/sit analysis.

Last updated: November 3, 2026

Full Defensemen Rankings

#	Player	Avg Pts	Tier	Analysis
1	Abram Wiebe CGY	—	?	Analysis →
2	Adam Boqvist NYI	—	?	Analysis →
3	Adam Engstrom MTL	—	?	Analysis →
4	Adam Fox NYR	—	?	Analysis →
5	Adam Ginning VGK	—	?	Analysis →
6	Adam Larsson SEA	—	?	Analysis →
7	Adam Pelech NYI	—	?	Analysis →
8	Adam Wilsby NSH	—	?	Analysis →
9	Albert Johansson DET	—	?	Analysis →
10	Alex Gagne COL	—	?	Analysis →
11	Alex Vlasic CHI	—	?	Analysis →
12	Alexander Nikishin CAR	—	?	Analysis →
13	Alexander Petrovic FLA	—	?	Analysis →
14	Alexander Romanov NYI	—	?	Analysis →
15	Alexandre Carrier MTL	—	?	Analysis →
16	Andrew Peeke BOS	—	?	Analysis →
17	Antti Tuomisto VGK	—	?	Analysis →
18	Arber Xhekaj MTL	—	?	Analysis →
19	Artem Kriukov BUF	—	?	Analysis →
20	Artem Zub OTT	—	?	Analysis →
21	Artyom Levshunov CHI	—	?	Analysis →
22	Ben Chiarot DET	—	?	Analysis →
23	Ben Hutton VGK	—	?	Analysis →
24	Bowen Byram CHI	—	?	Analysis →
25	Braden Schneider NYR	—	?	Analysis →
26	Brady Skjei NSH	—	?	Analysis →
27	Brandon Carlo STL	—	?	Analysis →
28	Brandon Montour SEA	—	?	Analysis →
29	Brandt Clarke LA	—	?	Analysis →
30	Brayden McNabb VGK	—	?	Analysis →
31	Brayden Pachal CGY	—	?	Analysis →
32	Brendan Smith CBJ	—	?	Analysis →
33	Brenden Dillon NJ	—	?	Analysis →
34	Brent Burns COL	—	?	Analysis →
35	Brett Kulak COL	—	?	Analysis →
36	Brett Pesce NJ	—	?	Analysis →
37	Brian Dumoulin LA	—	?	Analysis →
38	Brock Faber MIN	—	?	Analysis →
39	Cale Fleury SEA	—	?	Analysis →
40	Aaron Ekblad FLA	—	?	Analysis →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who should I start at defensemen in fantasy this week?

Rankings for NHL defensemen update daily based on recent fantasy performance and injury status.

What are the best NHL defensemen to pick up on waivers?

Check the full rankings table above for defensemen with high recent averages who may be available in your league. PlayCaller generates roster-specific waiver recommendations when you connect your Sleeper, ESPN, or Yahoo league.

How do I know which defensemen to start tonight?

Use the start/sit tier labels above — START means a strong play, FLEX means a borderline play, SIT means avoid if possible. For a personalized recommendation based on your specific roster and league settings, connect your league to PlayCaller's AI agent.

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