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 eveal 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 Larsson – When you play Colorado your heroes have to come through and that’s what Larsson is. He plays top pairing minutes, kills penalties, and blocks shots. The Avalanche will be all over the Kraken in this one, so I think Larsson has a path to a high floor with some sneaky upside if the Kraken can catch the Avalanche off guard a little.
Nikita Zadorov – Big Daddy Zaddy is a hero that does it all for his Bruins. He plays well at home and is in a matchup against a Mammoth team that loves to shoot. Zadorov blocks shots, kills penalties, and has sneaky offensive talent he sometimes flashes.
Denton Mateychuk – This hero is back on the top pair with Werenski and he has been buzzing. Mateychuk is a great young player that is very active and will get even more minutes in a fast-paced game.
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
Jackson LaCombe – This horse is in a fast-paced matchup in Columbus where he scored the game tying goal the last time they played in Columbus. I remember, because I was there. That is insignificant here, but there is just several avenues to fantasy production here, and LaCombe is a strong play overall.
Morgan Rielly – The Leafs are at home against the Blackhawks who are without Connor Bedard, which bares less defensive responsibility for the top players for the Leafs. The Leafs should be heavy favorites here, which means that the top offensive defenseman that quarterbacks the top powerplay unit, has a chance to put up some points.
Zeev Buium – The Rangers are on the second game of a back to back and Buium is hot and ready to cook for his new team. He is a talented and young defensemen that is going to get a promotion from a minutes perspective, as well as top powerplay unit duties. Strike while the iron is hot and cheap.
🏁 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.
