After the Winter Olympics break, all eyes are back on the regular NHL season as it resumes from 25th February onwards. Meanwhile, the NBA has also just returned from its All-Star Break. Both have given fans and fantasy sports players alike a chance to step back and reevaluate some of the best picks currently on the ice or the court. Here are three of our high-impact picks from America’s hockey and basketball franchises.
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In keeping with OCNJDaily's coverage of Philadelphia sports teams, Philly Flyers right winger Travis Konecny has been on fire through late January and early February, making him a great multi-category pick for a wing spot on someone’s fantasy roster. The Olympic break provides an opportunity for fantasy sports fans to reconsider their top picks or get started by using promotions like the sign-up promo for Dabble Fantasy, where newcomers can claim a $10 sign-up bonus. For those kinds of fans, Konecny could be a lower-cost, underrated pick for offense.
That’s because Konecny has been key to the Flyers’ offense this season, making 54 points in almost as many games (55). More recently, that led to his multi-point streak across four games. It started with a hat trick against the Columbus Blue Jackets, then he went one goal and one assist against both the Boston Bruins and the LA Kings, before finishing the Washington Capitals with two further assists. He was named NHL’s Third Star of the Week for his trouble, and while the Ottawa Senators ended the streak, the Winter Olympics break might see him return with something to prove.
Moving to the NBA, we’d suggest Cade Cunningham for offense after the Detroit Pistons blitzed the NBA All-Star Weekend. His high usage rate makes him a great DFS pick since he tends to sit in that elite 32-35% range. He shoots over 80% if he throws from the line, down to 46.2% if shooting from the field.
Cade Cunningham was swishin' & dishin' in the Bay!
— NBA (@NBA) January 31, 2026
🏎️ 29 PTS
🏎️ 11 AST
The East-leading @DetroitPistons win on the road! pic.twitter.com/vypyCiKkPB
In 47 games, he’s averaged 25.3 points, 9.6 assists, and 5.6 rebounds recorded here at Basketball-Reference. That makes him the current second-best in the NBA for assists, while being a strong scorer in his own right. He also spends about 35 minutes on the court, which is also the fourth-longest court time in the NBA at the moment. Cunningham’s high assists could be very important to your roster if you’re lacking there.
Offense is just one half of the equation. Defense is also important, and then there are defensemen like Zach Werenski who have shown impressive goal-scoring ability too. Before the Olympic break, Werenski had made 20 goals, going on to lead his team in points scored. He isn’t shy about shooting the puck, and that kind of tenacity will probably carry through the rest of this season. In fact, he’s still racking up assists in the Olympics, covered here by USAHockey.
If you need more numbers, he’s made 62 total points in this season, second out of all defensemen playing in the NHL. That’s thanks to 42 further assists to go with those 20 goals. While everyone crowds towards more famous, more impenetrable defensemen from big-name teams, Werenski could lend both an offensive and defensive stat boost to your roster. His shots-on-goal stat is his biggest appeal.
As the second half of the NHL season commences, we’ll see if these three players can continue posting impressive stats that make them a good pick for daily fantasy sports or longer-term fantasy rosters. Similarly, we'll see if Cade Cunningham can continue his streak as one of the most high-assisting ball players this season.
