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
Jake Sanderson – This horse is one of the top 5 defensemen in the world in my opinion and he is facing a Columbus team that hemorrhages scoring to opposing defensemen. The Columbus penalty kill is also bad, so the upside for Sanderson has a high likelihood of hitting. He can scoring fantasy points in a lot of different ways.
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
Zach Werenski – going to the same game here, the Blue Jackets are desperate as hell and are finally back on home ice. Ottawa is near the bottom of the league in save percentage, and the Blue Jackets’ powerplay is finally starting to heat up. Werenski may play 30 minutes a game until his team starts winning which makes Werenski one of the best overall plays on the entire slate.
Evan Bouchard – Edmonton is at home against a Detroit team that just leaks goals to their opponents. Both of Detroit’s veteran goalies are mediocre. This gives Bouchard a higher chance of reaching his ceiling. Edmonton is heating up which also bodes well for Bouchard. This play checks a lot of boxes for me.
Simon Edvinsson – This hero is a young stallion that kills penalties and blocks a ton of shots with his long stick. This Swede is 6’6 which pretty much makes him a giraffe when you attach skates to his feet. I like the floor and ceiling combination here in this fast-paced game environment.
Nick Seeler – Seeler is a hero that plays top pair and penalty kill minutes for the Flyers. The Flyers are playing well and are at home here in a tough matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas likes to apply pressure and shoot pucks, and Seeler loves blocking pucks with his face. Seeler has been one of the best blocks per minute players for a while, and I think he gets the bonus here.
Ryan Pulock – Pulock is a hero that does it all and plays a ton for the Islanders. He actually correlates well with Schaefer even on the penalty kill as well as the top pair. Pulock will block pucks as well chip in offensively at times with his absolute cannon from the point. The Islanders are going to be in a fast-paced matchup at home against the Ducks, which is a great game environment to be in for big minute players. Pulock is safe in pretty much all formats.
🏁 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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