NHL DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Predictions Today: Tuesday Playbook
Published: Jan 14, 2025
We have a massive 13-game NHL slate on tap tonight and there is a ton to go through! Our NHL DFS picks are in a great spot with so many games and players to pick through tonight, you can take your lineups in a number of different directions.
Could stay with the chalk, go stars and scrubs, fade the top options, and go against the grain. Everything is on the table tonight.
NHL DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, January 14th
We are approaching the final few weeks before the 4 Nations Tournament and things couldn't be better for the NHL.
Teams/players are at an elite level of production, and it has led to plenty of scoring across the league.
NHL DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Goalies
Top Options For Saves: Daniil Tarasov - CBJ
The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking good right now and are holding down the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They have a winnable matchup tonight versus the Philadelphia Flyers, but it may not be as easy as it seems.
Despite surging in the standings, the Blue Jackets are still allowing a ton of shot attempts, which lead to plenty of shots on goal. Since the start of the season, the Blue Jackets have allowed 61.08 Total Shot Attempts per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the sixth-most in the league.
This leads to their goalies racking up a ton of saves, which is what we've seen from Daniil Tarasov. He comes in with 24 saves or more in four straight starts, which should continue tonight, even if he gives up a goal or two along the way.
Best Odds For A Win: Logan Thompson - WAS
The Washington Capitals continue to roll along this season, and they have a very soft matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, who are simply terrible. Over the last two weeks, the Ducks are scoring 1.64 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the eighth-worst in the league.
Oddly enough, over that same time and in those same situations, the Capitals have allowed exactly 1.64 Goals, which is the sixth-best in the league. They've had a stout defense all season and it will put Logan Thompson in a spot to pick up a win tonight.
NHL DFS Lineups: Core NHL DFS Skaters
Play Of The Day: Sidney Crosby - PIT
Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the midst of a very up-and-down season but tonight is a chance for them to get back on track against a dreadful Seattle Kraken lineup.
Over the last two weeks, the Kraken have allowed 3.62 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the worst in the NHL. Crosby should be able to jump all over this struggling defense, as he continues to post great numbers 20-some-odd years into his career.
Over the last 10 games, Crosby comes in with 13 total points and 29 shots on goal, while seeing time on the first forward line and the first power-play unit.
Value Play Of The Day: Josh Doan - UTA
The Utah Hockey Club continues to deal with injuries this season and it has opened up an opportunity for Josh Doan to contribute on offense. He is nearly at the minimum salary on DraftKings, while seeing time on the second forward line and the first power-play unit.
It's honestly an insane role for a player at $2.6K, making him a clear value option tonight. He has just two games under his belt since being recalled, posting zero points and four shots on goal in those games. Are we expecting a 20-point performance from him? No, but a few shots and maybe an assist will make him well worth the roster spot tonight.
Stack Of The Day: CBJ L1/PP1 (Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronkov, Zach Werenski)
The Columbus Blue Jackets top line/power-play unit is buzzing right now, and they have a solid matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers to pile up the goals.
Over the last two weeks, the Blue Jackets have scored 3.00 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the third-best in the league. They are getting production from all over the place and with Sean Monahan on IR, Adam Fantilli has stepped into the top-line center role.
He has 7 points and 22 shots in the last 10 games. Voronko has 15 points and 30 shots on goal. Marchenko has 14 points and 35 shots on goal. Werenski has 16 points and a staggering 51 shots on goal. It's an elite stack with plenty of upside tonight.
Highest Expected Goal Totals
- Colorado Avalanche: 3.8
- Utah Hockey Club: 3.7
- Washington Capitals: 3.5
- Pittsburgh Penguins: 3.5
- Columbus Blue Jackets: 3.4
Today's NHL DFS Cheat Sheet & Stacks
Player Pool
| $ Tier | C | W | D | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Nathan MacKinnon  $9,200 |  Alex Ovechkin $8,400 |  Zach Werenski $7,700 | Logan Thompson $8,600 |
 Jack Hughes $8,500 |  Kyle Connor $8,700 | Cale Makar $7,500 | ||
 Sidney Crosby $8,000 |  Mikko Rantanen $8,600 |  Quinn Hughes $7,000 | ||
| Medium | Dylan Strome $7,200 | Kirill Marchenko $7,800 | Erik Karlsson $6,500 |  Ilya Samsonov $7,900 |
 Macklin Celebrini $7,100 |  Cole Caufield $7,500 | Jakob Chychrun $6,200 | ||
| Nick Suzuki $6,900 | Bryan Rust $7,300 |  Mikhail Sergachev $6,000 | ||
| Low | Kent Johnson $6,500 | Josh Doan $4,600 | Kaiden Guhle $4,800 | Daniil Tarasov $7,300 |
| Adam Fantilli $5,500 | Cole Perfetti $5,000 | Kris Letang $5,200 | ||
| Reilly Smith $4,900 |
Stacks
| Blue Jackets | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko | Zach Werenski | Dmitri Voronkov |
 DraftKings | 4000 | 7100 | 9300 | 5800 |
| Fanduel | 5500 | 7800 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Penguins | Rickard Rakell | Sidney Crosby | Bryan Rust |
| DraftKings | 7000 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Fanduel | 7100 | 8000 | 7300 |
| Blue Jackets | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko | Zach Werenski | Dmitri Voronkov |
| DraftKings | 4000 | 7100 | 9300 | 5800 |
| Fanduel | 5500 | 7800 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Penguins | Rickard Rakell | Sidney Crosby | Bryan Rust |
| DraftKings | 7000 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Fanduel | 7100 | 8000 | 7300 |
| Blue Jackets | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko | Zach Werenski | Dmitri Voronkov |
| DraftKings | 4000 | 7100 | 9300 | 5800 |
| Fanduel | 5500 | 7800 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Penguins | Rickard Rakell | Sidney Crosby | Bryan Rust |
| DraftKings | 7000 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Fanduel | 7100 | 8000 | 7300 |
| Blue Jackets | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko | Zach Werenski | Dmitri Voronkov |
| DraftKings | 4000 | 7100 | 9300 | 5800 |
| Fanduel | 5500 | 7800 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Penguins | Rickard Rakell | Sidney Crosby | Bryan Rust |
| DraftKings | 7000 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Fanduel | 7100 | 8000 | 7300 |
| Blue Jackets | Adam Fantilli | Kirill Marchenko | Zach Werenski | Dmitri Voronkov |
| DraftKings | 4000 | 7100 | 9300 | 5800 |
| Fanduel | 5500 | 7800 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Penguins | Rickard Rakell | Sidney Crosby | Bryan Rust |
| DraftKings | 7000 | 7700 | 6900 |
| Fanduel | 7100 | 8000 | 7300 |
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.