NHL DFS Playbook December 16: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Published: Dec 16, 2023
Saturday's 12-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers featuring a great matchup as Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers face Matthew Tkchuck and the Florida Panthers. We should expect lots of tight games with some great matchups out there, but expect some of the top scorers to shine through still. So, be sure to check in with our NHL DFS Tools, with the daily NHL projections, and our NHL lineup generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting!
NHL DFS Playbook December 16th
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
With there being 12 games today, the strategy for cash games and GPP's could vary quite a bit. There is good reason to focus on the New Jersey Devils with their matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets, as you have one of the highest-scoring teams in the league facing one of the worst teams. In a cash game, I think this is a sensible strategy, and in a GPP you could even go with a full game stack, given Colombus just scored six times against Toronto earlier in the week, and New Jersey isn't a great defensive team. The Edmonton vs Florida game should be of interest as well as both of those teams have allergies to defence also. In a GPP, I would want to consider stacking Columbus as they will likely not see a lot of ownership and hope they score a bunch of goals again, and then try and get yourself a McDavid, Matthews or a group of top players in good matchups to push you over the top.
Recommended DFS Starting Goalies,
Top Options for Saves
Sergei Bobrovsky vs Edmonton Oilers
Tristan Jarry vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Joey Daccord vs Los Angeles Kings
Best Odds for a Win
Vitek Vanecek vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Semyon Varlamov vs Montreal Canadiens
Martin Jones vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups
Tristan Jarry, G, Pittsburgh Penguins
While the Penguins have struggled this season, it hasn't been because Jarry hasn't played well. He will face a Toronto team that has been averaging more than four goals per game over the last two weeks, but his risk is baked into the price, and he has upside with Toronto also averaging 36 shots per game on goal.
Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
Hellebuyck has been great for the Jets. He has won four straight starts, and he hasn't given up more than two goals in five straight starts. Facing the Avalanche isn't an ideal matchup, but in a GPP he is well worth the risk, especially at his price.
Semyon Varlamov, G, New York Islanders
This is a great matchup for cash games. It looks like it will be Varlamov who gets the start, but either way it should be a solid play. Montréal has struggled as of late and this should be a game the Islanders win at home.
Recommended DFS Skaters
Highest Expected Goal Totals
New Jersey Devils vs Daniil Tarasov (4.0)
Edmonton Oilers vs Sergei Bobrovsky (3.8)
Dallas Stars vs Jordan Binnington (3.6)
Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups
Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
After a slow start to the season, McDavid has come back to remind us that he is the best player in the league. He has multi-point games in eight of his last nine games, and at least a single point in eleven straight games. This is a great matchup against the Panthers tonight, so I wouldn't hesitate to use him in all lineup types.
Nazem Kadri, C, Calgary Flames
We have also seen Kadri's play really pick up. He has six points in his last five games, and he has three five-shot games in that stretch as well. He will be facing a Lightning team that has been in the bottom third of the league for most of the season in goals against so this could be a good spot to use Kadri.
Gabriel Vilardi, W, Winnipeg Jets
Vilardi is coming off a monster game against his former club, and it will be interesting to see if he can carry that momentum forward and you will get him at a value price.
Noah Dobson D, New York Islanders
Even after a game where he didn't put up points against the Bruins, I continue to see Dobson as a go-to choice especially facing Montreal. He has had seven points in his last five games, and he should be in a position to get more again today.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | C | W | F | D | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Connor McDavid  $10,200 |  Nikita Kucherov $10,500 |  Noah Dobson $8,100 | Semyon Varlamov $8,300 | |
| Medium |  Nazem Kadri $6,500 |  Tyler Toffoli $7,000 |  Zach Werenski $6,400 |  Connor Hellebuyck $8,100 | |
| Low |  Ryan Johansen $4,200 | Gabriel Vilardi $4,700 |  Luke Hughes $4,500 |  Tristan Jarry $7,400 |
Stacks
| Devils | Jack Hughes | Tyler Toffoli | Luke Hughes |
 DraftKings | 9700 | 6100 | 4200 |
| Fanduel | 10200 | 7000 | 4500 |
| Blue Jackets | Adam Fantilli | Zach Werenski | Johnny Gaudreau |
| DraftKings | 4100 | 5600 | 4100 |
| Fanduel | 5100 | 6400 | 4900 |
| Flames | Rasmus Andersson | Nazem Kadri | Yegor Sharangovich |
| DraftKings | 5500 | 5400 | 4400 |
| Fanduel | 6700 | 6500 | 4900 |
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.