NHL DFS Playbook December 3: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks

Published: Dec 03, 2023
Sunday's four-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers featuring a great matchup as Vincent Trocheck and the New York Rangers face Mikael Granlund and the San Jose Sharks. 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 1st
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
With the makeup of the four games today, there are going to be some very different strategies between cash and GPP games. In both cases expect ownership for New York Ranger's players to be very high. While the Sharks have shown at times to be capable of beating good teams (much like they did on Friday against the Devils), in cash games I would still recommend a healthy dose of the Rangers top players. In GPP's however, I would want to avoid the Rangers and invest in some of the other teams like the Bruins, Sabres, Predators, Kings and Avalanche.
Recommended DFS Starting Goalies,
Top Options for Saves
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen vs Nashville Predators
Mackenzie Blackwood vs New York Rangers
Alexandar Georgiev vs Los Angeles Kings
Best Odds for a Win
Jonathan Quick vs San Jose Sharks
Jeremy Swayman vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Cam Talbot vs Colorado Avalanche
Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, Buffalo Sabres
Luukkonen laid an egg in his last start, there is no denying that. However, in his three starts before that, he was very good. This is a game the Sabres can win at home against the Predators, and statistically speaking he has a good chance to face the most shots of any goalie today.
Jonathan Quick, G, New York Rangers
Quick is yet to lose a game in regulation time this season. His numbers at home haven't been as good on the road, but he offers you pretty safe play in your cash games. I would avoid him in GPP's however, as his ownership could be high, and he likely doesn't face a lot of shots either.
Mackenzie Blackwood, G, San Jose Sharks
For how bad as the Sharks have been their goalies at times have been nothing short of spectacular. Blackwood in his last three games has had a save percentage that was no worse than 0.917 and when you factor in that he could see more than 35 shots tonight, which offers a significant upside in your GPP for a very low cost.
Recommended DFS Skaters
Highest Expected Goal Totals
New York Rangers vs Mackenzie Blackwood (4.3)
Boston Bruins vs Spencer Martin (4.2)
Buffalo Sabres vs Juuse Saros (3.5)
Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups
Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
The Vegas numbers say that Colorado won't have a great time in LA today. However, one stat that tells me otherwise is the while Cam Talbot's numbers have been good, his numbers at home haven't been. In his seven home starts, he has a 0.902 save percentage and when you're facing a team like the Avs who have this much firepower that could mean 4 goals or more.
Vincent Trocheck, C, New York Rangers
Trocheck has four points in his last two games for the Rangers, and his line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere has been really good recently. If this game gets out of hand his minutes might go down a bit, but he should be a player who can get to or exceed value today.
JJ Peterka, W, Buffalo Sabres
You buy into Peterka because the shots should be there. He has five shots or more in two of his last three games, and he has shown the ability to score goals this season with 10 in 24 games.
Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators
Today seems like a good day to buy into Josi's upside. he is coming off a game where he scored a goal and had seven shots and four blocked shots. He will face a Sabres team that played yesterday, so the points could be there for him as well as the shots.
Player Pool
$ Tier | C | W | D | G |
---|---|---|---|---|
High | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Medium | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Low | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Stacks
Rangers | Vincent Trocheck | Alexis Lafreniere | Adam Fox |
![]() | 6000 | 4600 | 5300 |
![]() | 6200 | 5500 | 6900 |
Avalanche | Cale Makar | Valeri Nichushkin | Nathan MacKinnon |
![]() | 8200 | 6700 | 9600 |
![]() | 8300 | 7400 | 10300 |
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.