NHL DFS Playbook November 7: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks

Published: Nov 07, 2023
Tuesday's ten-game NHL slate is loaded with top-tier scorers. 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 November 7th
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
There are a handful of key games to build around tonight. The most difficult one of them is going to be the Philadelphia Flyers at the San Jose Sharks. I wouldn't normally put a lot of DFS weight into the Flyers, but the Sharks have been awful this season. In the last two weeks, the Sharks have given up 5.83 goals per game, and if that trend continues tonight, I would want to have some Flyers players like Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny. The other matchup that I would be paying attention to is the New Jersey Devils at the Colorado Avalanche. The Devils are going to be without Jack Hughes again today, and that loss will be much more obvious today when they face Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche. The Avs are coming off a bad loss being shown up 7-0 by Vegas and the Devils could be in for a long night.
Recommended DFS Starting Goalies
Top Options for Saves
Lukas Dostal vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Jake Allen vs Carolina Hurricanes
Alexandar Georgiev vs New Jersey Devils
Best Odds for a Win
Antti Raanta vs Buffalo Sabres
Samuel Ersson vs San Jose Sharks
Alexandar Georgiev vs New Jersey Devils
Favorite Goalies to Use for DFS Lineups
Samuel Ersson, G, Philadelphia Flyers
I wouldn't typically recommend a goalie who has a 0.815 save percentage, but Ersson has only given up three goals in his last two starts, and to be honest San Jose has been that bad. Over the last two weeks, the Sharks have scored less than one goal per game, so the risks that come with starting Ersson are minimalized by how bad the Sharks have been.
Alexandar Georgiev, G, Colorado Avalanche
Georgiev has been flat-out terrible in his last five starts, but as a GPP play, there are good reasons to take on his risk. He has been streaky (by the way most goalies are), but he was great in his first 5 starts, before being bad in his most recent starts. He typically wins games as well, he has won six of his nine starts. Lastly, he has played much better at home, with his save percentage nearly 20 points higher than it is on the road. There is still risk facing a Devils team that can score goals, but I think Georgiev is in a good spot where he could see a lot of shots and if he stops most of them he could be one of the highest-scoring goalies on this slate.
Lukas Dostal, G, Anaheim Ducks
I love the value of Dostal in this matchup. Dostal has won four straight starts for the Ducks, and he has looked great doing it. He has a 0.920 save percentage on the season, and he could easily be among the best values on this slate today.
Recommended DFS Skaters
Highest Expected Goal Totals
Carolina Hurricanes vs Devon Levi (3.9)
Colorado Avalanche vs Vitek Vanecek (3.8)
Philadelphia Flyers vs Mackenzie Blackwood (3.8)
Favorite Skaters to Use for DFS Lineups
Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
This is a great matchup for MacKinnon. With the Devils down both Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, MacKinnon will be facing their third-best center and that is something I would look for him to take advantage of. I will be curious to see MacKinnon's ownership today, as I think many people will simply see that he is facing the Devils and go looking to build around someone different.
Nikita Kucherov W, Tampa Bay Lightning
There is an argument to be made that Kucherov has been the best player in the league this season, so far. He has 20 points, and nine of those points have come in his last two games. The Lightning will need him to continue to play well as the Atlantic division is very tight, and every point matters, especially against a division rival. I would look for him to have another big game today.
Lawson Crouse, W, Arizona Coyotes
Crouse has scored in three straight games, and he has points in five straight games overall. He should be a fine value play today as the Coyotes face the Seattle Kraken at home. Crouse is playing top-six minutes right now and Seattle has been in the bottom third of the league in goals against over the last two weeks, so I expect Arizona to score some goals today.
Erik Gustafsson, D, New York Rangers
With Adam Fox out, it looks like it will be Gustafsson who will take over the top powerplay time. Gustafsson is a pure offensive defenceman, and while he isn't at the calibre of Fox, he is capable of running a powerplay. While he doesn't have the floor of his teammate Jacob Trouba, his time on the powerplay gives up plenty of upside at his price.
Player Pool
$ Tier | C | W | D | G |
---|---|---|---|---|
High | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Medium | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Low | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Stacks
Avalanche | Mikko Rantanen | Nathan MacKinnon | Bowen Byram |
![]() | 8500 | 9800 | 3100 |
![]() | 9900 | 10200 | 4200 |
Lightning | Brayden Point | Victor Hedman | Nikita Kucherov |
![]() | 7200 | 6000 | 8400 |
![]() | 8400 | 6600 | 9700 |
Flyers | Travis Sanheim | Cam Atkinson | Owen Tippett |
![]() | 5500 | 5500 | 5100 |
![]() | 6500 | 5900 | 5500 |
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.