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
Luke Hughes – It seems as though Hughes and Hamilton are alternating on the top powerplay unit, but as of right now Luke Hughes is listed as the guy. Hughes is a horse that is also on the top defensive pair. The Devils are against the abysmal defense that is the Sharks, and I am simply taking the defenseman with the highest ceiling here.
Oct 30, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; New Jersey Devils forward Jesper Bratt (63) and forward Stefan Noesen (11) and forward Jack Hughes (86) and forward Nico Hischier (13) celebrate Jack Hughes’ goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jake Sanderson – The Senators are on fire offensively and Sanderson has been around all of it. The Senators are at home and the Flames have been awful. This is a solid spot overall and Jake Sanderson is the real deal.
Marcus Pettersson – Pettersson is a hero that is a defensive beast. He is in a good position here to have a high floor because the Blues like to shoot. Pettersson is also on the top penalty kill unit which helps him potentially get to the shot block bonus.
Nick Perbix – This hero has been elevated to the top pair with the absence of Roman Josi. He is on the top penalty kill and eats a lot of hard minutes which gives him a high likelihood of a solid floor. He is a solid cheap option in smaller fielded contests.
Jared Spurgeon – The Wild captain appears to be leading their powerplay as the Zeev Buium experiment may be coming to an end. The Wild have stunk so far this season, and their captain is going to try to help simplify their game. Pucks on net and blocking shots, that’s his game.
Mario Ferraro – This hero plays big minutes and kills penalties, which is a theme we are always looking for. The Sharks are playing the Devils who love to shoot the puck, which means that Ferraro is in a good spot to potentially reach the blocked shot bonus.
🏁 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.
