If you’re playing NHL DFS on DraftKings or FanDuel, you already know goalies and stacks are high priority. But the secret edge to climbing tournaments is finding those sneaky defensemen who fly under the radar—the Horses & Heroes. In this article, I’ll reveal my favorite undervalued NHL defensemen plays for this slate, explain why they matter for DFS strategy, and show you how to plug these picks into your lineups. Join the DFS Army today and get full access to our Discord, tools, and analysis that back every recommendation.
Horse – A defenseman that is more chalky than others that is a catalyst for their team. These players usually have higher ceilings, and can be used as the glue to bring a stack together. They typically quarterback the top powerplay unit and log a ton of minutes.
Hero – A hero is a cheaper defenseman that will be a role player on their NHL team. They usually kill penalties and are the unsung heroes that block shots for their team. They typically garner low ownership, have high floors, and are the key pieces needed to take down tournaments.
Horses & Heroes: Top NHL Defensemen to Target for DFS Lineups
Ryan Shea – Shea is a hero that is on the 2nd defense pairing and top penalty kill unit. He has shown the ability to shoot accurately and get pucks on net when needed as well. He has one of the best floors at this bottom-dwelling price range.
Nick Jensen – Jenson is a hero that plays a little over 20 minutes a game, kills penalties, and plays a lot of the important minutes down the stretch of a game. He is a solid cheapie on a very small slate.
Jake Sanderson – Sanderson is the best defenseman on this slate and he is on a team that just put up 7 goals the other day. He has the highest ceiling, runs their powerplay, and is just an all around horse.
Nov 4, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Brandon Saad (20) celebrates with center Brayden Schenn (10) and St. Louis Blues center Jordan Kyrou (25) after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports
Kris Letang – Has high upside in general, and could break a slate especially on these smaller slates. He is too cheap for playing over 20 minutes a game while playing all of the big minutes down the stretch.
Mason Lohrei – This guy is a weird player that focuses on offense, but as of right now isn’t running the Bruins’ top powerplay unit. He has a hot stick accruing 4 points in his last 2 games. A cheap dart throw with upside never hurt anyone here.
Cam Fowler – Still playing over 22 minutes a game and running the Blues’ top powerplay unit. Fowler is a horse, and a cheap one at that. This whole situation seems to good to pass up, and Cam Fowler may be my favorite points per dollar play on this slate.
🏁 Final Thoughts — Ride Your Edge
Every NHL slate is loaded with obvious plays, but it’s the sharp eye for undervalued Horses and Heroes that separates casual players from consistent winners. The best part? You don’t have to do it alone. Our members are crushing NHL DFS every season using the same projections, tools, and strategy chats that fuel this article.
👉 Join the DFS Army today and turn your lineups into weapons. Get full access to our NHL cheat sheets, optimizer, and private Discord coaching for every slate.
