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
Conor Timmins – Elevated role in Buffalo. He has shown a high floor early on as a cheap hero playing big shutdown minutes. The top penalty kill also helps his shot block totals.
Rasmus Andersson – Top pairing guy, 2nd powerplay unit, and top penalty kill unit for this hybrid of a horse and hero. He is due for a big game and this spot is a good spot to do it.
Moritz Seider – This horse has a high floor and ceiling and is in a very high octane game here pace wise. Seider is on the top pair and powerplay unit, and is super active all over the ice. He is also the perfect compliment to Detroit stacks.
Jan 12, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin (71) heads to the bench after celebrating his power play goal against the Seattle Kraken with forward Alex DeBrincat (93), forward Lucas Raymond (23), and defenseman Moritz Seider (53) during the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Axel Sandin-Pellikka – The young Swede ASP is having a hell of a start to his career logging big minutes and playing in all situations for Detroit. I love this game environment and ASP has been getting the job done, so why shy away?
Brett Pesce – This hero has been a hero forever and he is starting to find his game now. These veteran players can take a few games to get it going, but Pesce has found his legs and is playing big minutes and killing penalties.
Jonas Brodin – Copy and paste the Pesce description and label it to Brodin. Brodin is also trying to secure a spot on Team Sweden’s Olympic team, so he has to continue to be stout defensively to keep that spot.
🏁 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.
