This week’s Waiver Wire Report has nice potential options for your fantasy teams.  Their numbers will make you wonder why they’re not more widely owned.  See who we’re talking about after the break.

Stephen Weiss, C, Fla (43% owned): Florida coach Pete DeBoer says that Weiss has 80 point potential.  That’s certainly what the Panthers envisioned when they choose him with the 4th overall pick in 2001.  Weiss had been a fringe fantasy player his first 5 seasons until last season’s 61 point effort.  Weiss started slow in October with just 6 points in 12 games.  With injuries to Stillman and Booth, Weiss has stepped it up by scoring in 10 of his last 11 contests with 8 goals and 7 assists in that span.  Most of Weiss’s production in his career has been assists.  With Florida loosing players depended on for goals, Weiss had been shooting more and looking much more confident in his shot.  Injuries to team-mates and maturity have rounded out his game the last 2 years.  He’s on pace to match or better last years output.  Though I still think Weiss has a little something to prove, but last year is looking more and more to be his breakout year making a solid fantasy center.  When Stillman and Booth return, it will be interesting to see if the added offensive weapons to the team will help Weiss make the jump to the next level.

Andrew Brunette, LW, Min (39% owned): The WIld took some time to start settling into their new more open system, but have started looking much better of late.  Brunette, however had no such problems and continues his career of being a great complimentary line-mate to team’s best players.  Year in and year out Brunette is constantly overlooked in fantasy hockey as his 39% ownership indicates.  Though he won’t be your #1 LW, he provides solid consistent production.  This year he’s got 26 points in 28 games, thus far.  As the team’s play has improved, so has his points, with 3 goals and 10 assists in his last 9 games.  Pick him up and enjoy the minimum of 60 points and 20 PP points he’ll accumulate as your #2/#3 LW.

Jason Arnott, C, Nash (39% owned): Arnott is another steady fantasy player, who’s track record proves he should have a higher ownership rate.  Never a dominate scorer, Arnott has consistently provided 55-60 point production.  In Nashville, he and Dumont are what makes the offense go on that team.  Arnott did start a bit slowly and missed a few games from injury this year but has averaged 30 goals a season the last 4 years.  Arnott has 10 points his last 10 games with 7 goals, 3 assists and 4 PP points.

Eric Fehr, RW, Wash (7% owned): Washington has star power in Ovechkin, Green, Backstrom and Semin.  So it’s easy to overlook some of their young up and coming players like Laich, Fleischmann and now Fehr.  Fehr has been knocking on the door of the top 6 forwards since last year.  Fehr’s 9 point in 6 games is awfully hard to ignore (4 goals and 5 assists).  Pick him up while he’s hot and if he stick on the top 2 lines, you may have found yourself one of this years’ fantasy surprises.

Chris Stewart, RW, Col (6% owned): Stewart is the classic beneficiary of a team-mates injury.  With David Jones going down with a knee injury, likely for the season, Stewart has slipped right into his spot next to Paul Stastny.  Stewart has not disappointed either with 3 goals, 7 assists and 3 PP points in 8 games.  The power forward also has a bit of an edge to his game and could provide a nice fantasy extra of some decent PIMs.

Jordan Staal, C, Pit (58% owned): Jordan Staal stepped right into the NHL as a 19 year old, in his draft year of 2006-07, and immediately showed his skill as a top defensive forward.  Though he has showed offensive promise, he hasn’t quite shown the consistency.  With Crosby and Malkin ahead of him at the center position he has had the time to grow into his body, his game and his offense.  Staal has 11 point in 11 contests (4 goals and 4 assists).  Having a player with offensive skill, in Tyler Kennedy, to play with has helped.  Staal has also shown a much higher level of confidence in challenging defenders in the offensive zone.

Ryan Whitney, D, Ana (47% owned): Whitney has 7 points over the last 9 games (2 goals, 5 assists, 4 PP points).  While the Ducks has disappointed so far this years, Whitney has been very solid on both ends of the ice.  Right now Whitney is on pace for a return to the 40 point, 20 PP point mark, which make for good fantasy defensemen numbers even in shallow leagues.  Anaheim also has too many good player not to improve somewhat.  And when the Duck play better Whitney should be right in the offensive production of it.

BucketofPucks PIMs Player of the Week

Shawn Thornton, LW, Bos (2% owned): Thornton is the man keeping opponents honest in Boston.  Now that the Bruins are finally healthy again, I expect Thornton to go out of his way to amp up the protection.  Thornton already has 9 fights so far this season and looks well on his way to about 25 for the years.  He’s on pace for about a 150+ PIM season.  Thornton is listed as a LW but has also been playing a good amount of RW, so he has the potential to be a dual position player.  If that happens, that flexibility is a huge help to considering caring a PIMs only player on your fantasy team.

Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Analysis, Andrew Brunette, Boston Bruins, Centers, Chris Stewart, Colorado Avalanche, Commentary, Defense, Eric Fehr, Fantasy C, Fantasy D, Fantasy hockey draft rankings, Fantasy LW, Fantasy RW, Florida Panthers, Jason Arnott, Jordan Staal, LW, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, PIMs Player of the Week, Pittsburgh Penguins, RW, Ryan Whitney, Shawn Thornton, Stephen Weiss, Top fantasy wingers, Top Waiver Wire players, Washington Capitals