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
Cam York – This dude is sort of a horse/hero hybrid for me. He is usually cheap around the industry and is slated on the top pair, top powerplay, and the top penalty kill. That is a big role for a guy that has flashes of talent. At home against a fast-paced Ducks team is a good spot to accrue fantasy points as well.
Ryan Pulock – The Islanders are at home against the Devils in a huge Metropolitan matchup halfway through the season. This is the time of year when heroes like Pulock step up. Pulock plays top pairing minutes, kills penalties, and has a huge shot from the point. This is an overall good spot mainly due to the great game environment.
Zach Werenski – Werenski is the best defenseman in the NHL not named Cale Makar. The Jackets won’t want to dwell on the blown lead from Sunday and will want to start fresh on the road on Tuesday. The Sharks play a very fast style, which should lead to Werenski capitalizing on chances.
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
Evan Bouchard – Keep it simple stupid. Bouchard plays well at home, and this is a bad team coming to visit Edmonton. Bouchard has his high ceiling like always, and the Oilers should be able to exploit the Preds in this one.
JJ Moser – Tampa is at home in a great game environment with the Colorado Avalanche. Moser is a hero that is playing big minutes and killing penalties on the top pair. Moser should have a high floor in this spot.
🏁 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.
