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
Artem Zub – Zub is a hero that plays top pairing minutes with Sanderson, but doesn’t play on the powerplay. They also kill penalties together. Zub does a little bit of this and a little bit of that to produce fantasy points, and the game environment vs the Rangers requires blocked shots and a strong game from the big Russian defenseman.
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. On the road in Buffalo is a good spot to accrue fantasy points as well, because Buffalo plays a fast and loose type of game.
Oct 15, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov (39) follows the play against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Mattias Samuelsson – This guy is an absolute unit of a man and plays a ton of top pairing minutes as well as kills penalties. He is super active in regards to shooting and blocking shots, which in turn, creates a high floor of fantasy points.
Vladislav Gavrikov – This hero has turned into a horse with no Adam Fox to speak of. Vladdy Daddy is running this powerplay, as well as logging tons of ice time, and killing penalties. He just has a lot of ways to get there, and he is one of the best overall plays on this boring slate.
🏁 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.
