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 – This is the cheapest that this horse has been in some time. He plays over 25 minutes a night, quarterbacks the top powerplay unit, and kills penalties as well. He is more than capable of accruing both the shots blocked and shots on goal bonuses. The CBJ have points in 4 straight games, and the Habs are trending downward because their goaltending is slipping a bit.
Nov 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) shoots against Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) during the third period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
Seth Jones – Seth Jones is a horse but is prices more like a hero. He is playing very well right now and is playing a ton of minutes. Jones also quarterbacks the top powerplay unit and kills penalties. You have to strike while the iron is hot with Jones, because he is more of a streaky player than a consistent one.
Jacob Trouba – Trouba is an expensive hero, but he has one of the highest floors of any defenseman in the league right now. He plays everywhere on the ice and is super active. This is also a positive game environment with the Ducks being at home and the Mammoth playing super fast. You should feel comfortable plugging him into your cash games and single entries.
Lane Hutson – I typically only play Lane in stacks with the top Montreal guys, but this salary is pretty jarring here. Hutson has a super high ceiling playing big minutes for this explosive Montreal offense. I still prefer him in some type of stacks but just be weary of how cheap he has gotten over this stretch of games.
Mikey Anderson – If you keep scrolling down you will find Mr Mikey Anderson. I like a hero like this on the road against a Capitals team that likes to shoot. Anderson plays around an amicable 20 minutes per game and does all the small greasy things. I don’t like many min-priced guys on this slate, but Anderson is passable if you need a guy in that range.
🏁 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.
