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
Zach Werenski – The CBJ have been playing well although they are 500, and they haven’t really gotten a lot from their main horse yet in Werenski. This is a premium spot for Werenski to pop off for the first time this year against a Sabres team that should be underdogs here. He plays big minutes, all situations, and is their catalyst on the top powerplay unit.
Nov 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) shoots against Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) during the third period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
Brendan Dillon – The Avs love to shoot and Dillon loves to block shots. This hero is one of the more underrated defensemen in the league when it comes to strictly defense. He kills penalties and will block a shot with his face, which we like on sites with a shot blocking bonus.
John Marino – Copy and paste the entire Brendan Dillon description, and apply it to John Marino. The Mammoth are in Edmonton, and they need their unsung heroes like Marino to block big shots of they want to have a good result on the road.
Jalen Chatfield – With Slavin banged up, it looks like Chatfield is going to garner more responsibility. He already killed penalties, but now he is on the top pair as well. Chatfield was always an active player stat wise, and now there will be more ice time for him to score fantasy points.
Brady Skjei – Another cheaper than normal guy that runs their team’s top powerplay unit. Brady Skjei is taking over for the recently injured Roman Josi. I like the ceiling that guys like this provide rather than the safer higher floor guys. Skjei is just a simple and effective defender who is a good points per dollar play on this slate.
Josh Morrissey – I think we are just stacking against the Wild this year. The Wild have been a disaster this year defensively and in the goals against department, and the Jets can score at will. If I like the Jets, I might as well like Morrissey as well, who is the glue that correlates well with everything.
🏁 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.
