Selecting elite fantasy blueliners can go a long way to creating a well-balanced roster. Beyond the cream of the crop, which consists of defensemen proficient enough to produce points on par with upper-level top-six forwards, there are numerous viable options for managers seeking versatility across multiple categories. While this is not meant to be used as an exact order for drafting, it can serve as a helpful tool to identify groupings of rearguards to choose from, what to expect from them and a rough idea of when they could be targeted.
Makar remains in a class of his own due to his offensive ability. He is capable of making an impact every time he hops onto the ice and has reached the 90-point plateau in two of the past three campaigns. He also racks up power-play points, shots and blocks.
Makar remains the lone blueliner worthy of being a top-10 fantasy selection. Evan Bouchard, Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski They are all elite offensive contributors capable of producing points at a point-per-game rate while logging heavy minutes. Bouchard and Hughes see time on excellent power-play units, while Werenski has been the best even-strength producer among all blueliners over the last three regular seasons.
Fantasy managers fortunate enough to choose one of them should feel confident their defense is set for the season. Tier 3 - Elite Multi-Category Building Blocks Lane Hutson, Rasmus Dahlin, Moritz Seider, Matthew Schaefer, Adam Fox, Jackson LaCombe, Miro Heiskanen The skaters in this grouping record outstanding offensive statistics while adding solid shot, block and power-play totals. Dahlin and Seider are also great sources of hits.
It didn't take long for Hutson and Schaefer to establish themselves as impact fantasy options, while LaCombe still has room to grow following his breakout performance in 2025-26. Darren Raddysh, Josh Morrissey, Jake Sanderson, Roman Josi, Mikhail Sergachev, Erik Karlsson, Charlie McAvoy, Shayne Gostisbehere, Shea Theodore, Jakob Chychrun, John Carlson, Brock Faber They all possess superb offensive skills and are likely to see plenty of power-play time in the 2026-27 season. They will also chip in shots, blocks and hits, making them solid options for fantasy managers who are unwilling to invest higher draft capital in a rearguard but still want a reliable primary alternative.
Brandt Clarke, Bowen Byram, Alexander Nikishin, Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Philip Broberg These defenders could provide plenty of bang for the buck if they reach their potential in the 2026-27 campaign. With the exception of Nikishin (unless he is traded), they all should be in line for increased roles and could provide strong category coverage. However, Clarke could be held back by Drew Doughty, while Dougie Hamilton may stunt the progress of Hughes.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
