NHL DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Stacks Today: Saturday Playbook

Published: Jan 11, 2025
Hello and welcome to NHL DFS today for a loaded 12-game slate. There are a ton of options to sort through today so let's jump straight in!
NHL DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, January 11th
It won't be a surprise to see some people go with a full stars and scrubs build today, given our available options. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in an elite matchup, jamming them both in could be a viable option today.
NHL DFS Pick'em Picks on Sleeper Fantasy
- Leon Draisaitl More Than 3.5 Shots on Goal
- Zach Werenski More Than 0.5 Points
- Owen Tippett More Than 0.5 Goals
The Edmonton Oilers have a juicy 4.2 implied goal total against the Chicago Blackhawks and it should be all Oilers in this game. Goals and shots by the bunches for the Oilers and let's turn to Leon Draisaitl more than 3.5 shots on goal. He comes in with a team-high 40 shots on goal over the last 10 games, while seeing time on the second forward line and the top power-play unit.
Zach Werenski has been a point machine this season 48 in 42 games. He's been downright amazing and should be in the conversation for the Norris Trophy. That's neither here nor there but a good matchup against the St. Louis Blues should see plenty of scoring. Both teams are in the bottom half of the league for goals allowed per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations over the last two weeks.
Owen Tippett is on a bit of a goal drought right now but luckily for him, he has a matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, who are terrible. Tippett has 21 shots on goal over his last 8 games, but no goals in that time. The Philadelphia Flyers desperately need a big game from their offense and with the lowly Ducks on the other side, Tippett and the Flyers should be able to get it done.
Saturday Salary Cap DFS Picks
Goalie Of The Day: Ilya Sorokin - NYI
I love the spot for Ilya Sorokin today for a few reasons. First off, he's just a great goalie, which is the obvious. His salary today is awesome considering he's only $7.6K on DraftKings, which isn't super expensive and helps with lineup construction overall.
And the matchup versus the Utah Hockey Club is great, since they are only scoring 1.74 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the eighth-lowest in the league over the last two weeks. He's allowed two goals or fewer in three of his last five starts and that should continue tonight.
Play Of The Day: Connor McDavid - EDM
The Edmonton Oilers come in with a slate-high 4.2 implied goal total against the Chicago Blackhawks and that means Connor McDavid is the chalk of the slate. McDavid comes in with 14 total points and 24 shots on goal over his last 10 games, which is essentially his baseline level of production.
Would we like to see the shot volume a bit higher? Of course but his multi-point potential is clear every night and that is what we are looking for in this matchup. Over the last two weeks, the Blackhawks have allowed 3.94 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is dead last in the league. McDavid and company dropping 5+ goals tonight wouldn't be a shock.
Value Play Of The Day: Dylan Holloway - STL
The St. Louis Blues have a solid 3.7 implied goal total against the Columbus Blue Jackets, in what should be a very solid game for fantasy production.
Holloway is seeing time on the second forward line and the first power-play unit, which has allowed him to rack up 5 goals, 8 assists, and 31 shots on goal over his last 10 games. The Blue Jackets have allowed 2.90 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations over the last two weeks, which is the fifth-worst in the league. We should be in for plenty of offense tonight from the Blues.
Stack Of The Day: VGK L1/PP1 (Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Shea Theodore, Tomas Hertl)
The Vegas Golden Knights are the best team in the league and they're coming off a game where they got shutout, which won't happen again tonight. This is a clear bounce-back spot for them against the struggling New York Rangers, so it's time to load up on a Vegas stack.
The Rangers have been struggling for the majority of the season and over the last two weeks, they've allowed 3.09 Goals per 60 minutes in five-on-five situations, which is the fourth-worst in the league.
So, let's just keep things simple with the Vegas top-line slash power-play unit. Eichel and Stone are on the first forward line and the first power-play together, giving us nice correlation. Theodore is the defender on the top power-play unit and brings plenty of fantasy value and I would look to get him in before Hert. This is not to say Hertl isn't a solid option but if you can only afford three, Theodore would be my preference.
Today's NHL DFS Cheat Sheet & Stacks
Player Pool
$ Tier | C | W | D | G |
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Low | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
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Stacks
Golden Knights | Shea Theodore | Jack Eichel | Tomas Hertl | Mark Stone |
![]() | 5700 | 9300 | 5100 | 7300 |
![]() | 6300 | 8700 | 6300 | 8200 |
Oilers | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Connor McDavid | Zach Hyman |
![]() | 4800 | 10000 | 6400 |
![]() | 6200 | 9000 | 6500 |
Golden Knights | Shea Theodore | Jack Eichel | Tomas Hertl | Mark Stone |
![]() | 5700 | 9300 | 5100 | 7300 |
![]() | 6300 | 8700 | 6300 | 8200 |
Oilers | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Connor McDavid | Zach Hyman |
![]() | 4800 | 10000 | 6400 |
![]() | 6200 | 9000 | 6500 |
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.