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 Blue Jackets are in desperate need of getting a win here and they should be getting Tampa Bay’s backup goalie tonight. Tampa was without Kucherov last night and they lost in overtime just last night in Detroit. A long game, an overnight travel, against a desperate team, is a recipe for Zach Werenski to have a great game. In this exact matchup last year Columbus put up 7 goals in a crazy win.
Denton Mateychuk – While the topic is on Columbus, it looks like a super cheap Denton Mateychuk will be Weresnki’s partner in this game. With Gudbranson probably out, coach Evason is switching things up here. Mateychuk is all-around good at everything and should be considered in all formats.
Charlie McAvoy – He is a horse at a hero’s price in a way. Too cheap here and he should see tons of minutes in a game vs the Avalanche where they will need him to shut down the best players on a fast Colorado team.
Mar 28, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Dmitry Orlov – He is in a great matchup vs Pittsburgh, and is still super cheap. Orlov is slated to be on the Sharks’ top pair and top powerplay unit. He can do a little bit of everything and is going to be a popular pick at this price.
Lane Hutson – He is too cheap and is heating up. The Rangers are a tough goaltending situation to solve, but Hutson’s upside cannot be overstated. This is just a Draftkings pricing flaw.
Erik Cernak – This hero plays around 20 minutes a game for the Lightning and he has averaged 8 fantasy points a game without even recording a hockey point this year. That means he has a high floor, and he is a cheapie. Cernak has achieved the 3 blocked shot bonus in every game but 1 this year.
🏁 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.
