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
Jonas Brodin – This hero is on the top defensive pair and kills penalties for the Wild. This is actually a matchup for the Wild that is a little scary, because the Sharks are actually playing pretty well. There should be plenty of opportunities for Brodin to fall into some fantasy production here.
Nov 1, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek (14) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with defenseman Brock Faber (7), forward Mats Zuccarello (36), and forward Kirill Kaprizov (97) during the second period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Jared Spurgeon – Same pairing, and description as Brodin, except Spurgeon also runs the top powerplay unit for the Wild. This is why he is slightly more expensive than Brodin and has higher upside offensively. Throw Spurgeon into your Wild stacks, and feel good about it.
Denton Mateychuk – Too cheap for how good this kid is, and how many minutes he plays. He is playing 22 minutes a game lately without sniffing special teams. Mateychuk is crafty, likes to shoot, and isn’t afraid to block a shot.
Zach Werenski – This horse plays enormous minutes, and the CBJ are desperate to right the ship. He has the highest floor/ceiling combo on the slate and does everything for his team in all situations.
Martin Fehervary – A big Metropolitan division matchup awaits here, and this just screams for a high floor game from Fehervary. Fehervary plays big minutes on the top pair, kills penalties, and isn’t afraid to make risky breakout passes. The Canes shoot a lot, so I am expecting several blocked shots, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Fehervary stumbled into a point as well.
Jacob Trouba – The former Rangers captain has found a home where he fits like a glove in Anaheim. Trouba plays solid minutes in a top 4 role for the Ducks and he plays on both sides of special teams. Trouba is one of the most prolific shot blockers in the league per minute of ice time, and this is going to be a barn burner of a game where there will be fantasy production all over the ice all night long.
Miro Heiskanen – Heiskanen is hot and it’s something to consider when we are stacking the Stars. He is a horse that is back to performing like he did 2 years ago. Heiskanen is also still on the young side of his prime, so it’s exciting to see him performing well again. He is a very gifted player that reads the game well, is a strong skater, and runs their top powerplay unit. He is playing big minutes, and I like where his game is at overall, so make sure to roster him on your stacks that include the Dallas Stars.
🏁 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.
