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Predators' Ryan Ellis: Picks up assist in win

With 29 points in 60 games, Ellis is 10 points away from setting a new career high for points in a season. The top-pairing defenseman led the penalty-killing attack Thursday as well, logging a team-high 3:47 of ice time with his team down a man.

Predators' Ryan Ellis: On pace for 40-point season

Ellis continues to excel on the Preds' top defensive pairing opposite Roman Josi. He is averaging 24:29 in ice time -- the most of his career -- and now has 26 points in 55 games, putting him on pace for a career-best 40 point season. The Preds are known for their deep and talented blue line, and Ellis is one of the reasons why. You want to own this guy.

Predators' Ryan Ellis: Pots insurance goal Monday

Ellis continues to see monster ice time, averaging just under 25 minutes per game on the Preds' second defensive pairing opposite Mattias Ekholm. Now with 23 points in 51 games, he has a good chance of hitting the 40-point mark for the first time in his career. The 27-year-old blueliner makes for a good second-tier fantasy option in most formats.

Predators' Ryan Ellis: Ends 2018 on positive note

Ellis has been promoted to the Preds' top defensive pairing alongside Roman Josi this season, and is currently averaging the most ice time of his career (24:56, including 3:05 on the power play). Although his points-per-game pace is down from last year (0.43 vs. 0.73), he is still on track to surpass the 30-point plateau for the fourth consecutive season. He may not be an elite scoring defenseman (yet), but consistency is everything in fantasy, and Ellis delivers that in spades.

Predators' Ryan Ellis: Seeing monster ice time

With P.K. Subban still on the IR with an upper-body injury, the Preds have been leaning on Ellis to play heavy minutes as part of their second defensive pairing. Offensively, however, Ellis has taken a step back from the 32 points he posted in just 44 games last season. Now with just 16 points through 36 games, he will likely not crack the 40-point plateau this season as many fantasy owners had been hoping. He still remains a solid play most nights given his elevated minutes, but he's still not quite the elite point producer we thought he might turn into this season.