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
Jakob Chychrun – This horse is at home and is always penciled in for me as a defenseman with one of the highest ceilings in the entire NHL. He is addicted to shooting pucks on net and is on the top powerplay unit, all while logging big minutes. The Capitals are a solid team and the Oilers goaltending situation is worrying at this point. I can see the giant Caps pushing the Oilers defensemen around, and guys like Chychrun firing pucks on net and scoring points.
Rasmus Dahlin – A horse that gets the poopy Flames on the second game of a back to back, as the Flames are traveling from Chicago to Buffalo. Dahlin is a beast that does it all, and he may face a backup goalie that is a significant downgrade from Dustin Wolf. Buffalo is coming off of a big win vs Detroit where they scored some big goals.
Nov 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) takes a shot against the Ottawa Senators during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Andrew Peeke – Peeke is always one of my favorite puck eaters to play. He almost never lets me down with his high floor. He plays huge minutes and kills penalties. Teams need these unsung heroes on long road trips.
Hampus Lindholm – Andrew Peeke’s D-partner by happenstance is also a very nice play. They play together on the top penalty kill unit to boot. Lindholm is also running the Bruins’ top powerplay unit while Charlie McAvoy gets like 750 facial reconstruction surgeries. This Swede is a legit good player vying for a trip to the Olympics if he keeps playing this well.
Brock Faber – Faber is a beast when he gets opportunities. He is currently checking all of my boxes by being a top pairing guy that is on both the Wild’s top powerplay and penalty kill units. He is can be a stand-alone cash play, or you can stack him with his team since the Wild are playing better as of late.
🏁 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.
