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
Adam Fox – Ottawa has been league and the Rangers have performed well on the road this year. Fox is a horse that runs the top powerplay unit and has a high ceiling because of that role. I expect the Rangers to score at least a few goals in a spot like this.
Oct 26, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The New York Rangers celebrate a goal scored by defensemen Adam Fox (23) during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Hampus Lindholm – The Bruins are at home and the Blues stink of something fierce. The Blues’ goaltending has been abysmal to start the year, and the Bruins play weird offensively. Lindholm runs their powerplay and can make other tricky offensive plays as well. He is a horse that is priced closer to a hero.
Jake McCabe – Jake the snake is going to be super overlooked like always, but this is the perfect game environment for him to thrive in. The Canes love to shoot, especially at home, and McCabe loves to block shots with his face. There are paths to fantasy relevance here that are interesting to me.
Ryan Pulock – Pulock is a hero that plays top pairing minutes, kills penalties, and can occasionally unleash a 105 MPH slapshot from the point. This gives him several avenues to fantasy production and the Avalanche love to fire pucks towards the net and play a fast game. The Islanders at home are dangerous, and I actually think they beat the Avalanche who are due to lose a couple.
Damon Severson – Severson is a hero that has been given a shot on the top powerplay unit for Columbus. Detroit plays a crazy style of pond hockey, and Severson has a high ceiling for a player at this price-point.
Rasmus Andersson – At home against the Wild is interesting for this top pairing and top powerplay playing horse. The Swede may give a big effort playing a team full of his Nordic brothers on Minnesota. He has high upside in this game environment.
🏁 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.
