NHL Fantasy Hockey Week 3 Waiver Wire: Evan Rodrigues Is A Top Pickup for Colorado Avalanche

Welcome to another edition of the Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report as the 2022 NHL season rolls on! The only way to win a championship in any fantasy league is to be active on the waiver wire. If you aren’t checking the wire at least once a week, then you’re doing it wrong. Each week, we’ll take a look at some NHL players that are trending up the fantasy hockey rankings and which ones you should be adding to your watch list. For fantasy hockey Week 3, Colorado Avalanche forward Evan Rodrigues is among the top risers in rankings and NHL projections. Be sure to check out the NHL injury report, our NHL daily projections, and all of our NHL seasonal tools before making roster moves or setting those fantasy hockey lineups. Let’s take a look at this week's top fantasy hockey waiver wire pickups.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups Week 3
Evan Rodrigues - Colorado Avalanche - Winger
With Valeri Nichushkin out of the lineup, Evan Rodrigues has moved up to the top line and it’s been very good. He scored two goals on Saturday and played a whopping 27-minutes. Only Cale Makar saw more ice time than him. He’s not going to play that much every game, but the fact that he even saw that amount in a game is music to my ears. He’s going to get his chances to produce as long as he stays on that top line, and if he continues to play this well, he could hold onto that spot even when Nichushkin comes back. I’d add him now before someone else gets to him.
Anthony Mantha - Washington Capitals - Winger
With T.J. Oshie out of the lineup for an extended period of time, Anthony Mantha is going to get an opportunity to step up and make an impact. The Veteran winger has size and skill, but he just hasn’t been consistent since joining the Capitals. He should get a bump in ice time over the next few weeks, which could help boost his numbers. This is a long shot add, but it could turn out to be something good.
Jared McCann - Seattle Kraken - Center
There are some pretty good centremen in Seattle, but Jared McCann looks like the best one. He has five goals and three assists so far this season and is seeing a healthy amount of ice time. His shot volume is also pretty good, so he’s exactly the type of player you’d want on your fantasy hockey team. I don’t know how long this strong play is going to last, but if you need some help down the middle, he’s one option to consider.
Adin Hill - Vegas Golden Knights - Goalie
Adin Hill is the clear backup in Las Vegas, but when he does play, he is elite. The Golden Knights as a team have been exceptional and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. They look like a juggernaut defensive team, which has helped Hill reach a 1.72 GAA and a .940 SV%. Even if he plays 40% of the games this season, at those numbers, I’ll gladly take him on my team. He’s only 20% owned in Yahoo! leagues, so he’s very much available.
Alec Martinez - Vegas Golden Knights - Defence
If you’re a regular of our NHL DFS Discord channel, you already know how much we all love Alec Martinez. The man is a human shield--blocking every shot that comes his way-- and does it every night without fail. He’s up to 45-blocked shots on the season and is well on his way to having over 200. He doesn’t shoot the puck a ton and doesn't hit anyone, ever, but he can single-handily win you the blocked shots category every week. If that’s a category in your league that matters and you don’t want to break your head every week about it, add Martinez to your team and never look back.
All stats provided by NHL.com
Check out our list of the best, and most trusted sports betting and fantasy sports promo codes from the top legal sites in your state.
Related NHL Links:
- NHL Injury Report Week 2: Valeri Nichuskin Out for the Colorado Avalanche
- NHL Week 2 Waiver Wire: Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Week 2: Calen Addison and Gabriel Vilardi are Top Pickups
- The Ultimate Fantasy Hockey Cheat Sheet
- 2022 NHL Stats
- Fantasy Hockey Projections
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.