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
Rasmus Dahlin – The Blues have stunk and have the worst combined save percentage in the NHL so far. The Blues also are playing their second game of a back to back. The Sabres have been hanging around, and Dahlin is a huge motor for them. Buffalo is in a sneaky spot here, which means I have time consider Dahlin. This Swedish horse plays huge minutes and piles up the powerplay points.
Nov 11, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) looks to pass the puck in the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Dougie Hamilton – This horse is a shoot first powerplay guy that is super active on the back end. The Habs play a controlled chaos type of game, just like the Devils, so I am anticipating goals to be scored here. If goals are scored here, then Hamilton may be on the score sheet here.
Sean Walker – This guy is a horse and hero hybrid that does everything and eats big minutes. He also quarterbacks the top powerplay unit which is an added bonus. The Hurricanes are at home which is a big boost for them, and they are against the surprisingly awful Minnesota Wild. The Wild cannot stop a puck this year, and with the Canes at home, Walker has a good chance at finding the scoresheet.
Nikita Zadorov – This hero plays solid minutes, blocks shots, and kills penalties. Ottawa loves to control play and shoot, and if that’s the case here, I like Zadorov to block at least 3 shots here.
Parker Wotherspoon – This guy is playing big shutdown minutes and killing penalties for the Penguins who have been surprisingly good this year. I do however think that the Penguins are fraudulent, and should get controlled by the Capitals here. That is good for Wotherspoon block production. He has a good floor, and I expect solid fantasy points for the big defenseman.
Mikey Anderson – Too cheap for the big minutes and penalty kill role for Mr Anderson. I don’t love the play in general, but he does have a solid floor, and the pricing around the industry is disrespectful to Mikey Anderson.
Brock Faber – The Hurricanes shoot the most in the league, which leads to a blocked shot opportunity. Faber plays huge minutes, is on the top penalty kill unit, and chips in on the powerplay as well. He has also been critical of his own play and has stepped it up recently.
🏁 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.
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