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
John Marino – Marino has been under-appreciated for years now and he goes under the radar for the Mammoth. He plays solid minutes and kills penalties, and this matchup vs Carolina is a good spot for him. Carolina shoots more than any other team in the NHL, and that is part of their philosophy. This leads to more potential blocks. If/then statements are key to making these decisions.
Braden Schneider – This hero will be relied upon more with Carson Soucy being traded to the opponent. Schneider is going to play more minutes and kill more penalties, which leads to blocked shots and fantasy relevance.
Scott Mayfield – This guy has been a hero forever. Now, he is slated to be on the top pairing and top penalty kill for the Islanders. He has always blocked a ton of shots per minute of ice time, so I expect a high floor in this spot. He should see more ice time, which creates more opportunities for a higher score.
Jackson LaCombe – LaCombe is a horse and has been a road warrior this season. The Canucks are literally the worst team in the NHL, and the Ducks are hot. LaCombe has high upside, but a low floor, and this is a spot that gives him a good chance of smashing his price tag.
Jan 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Quinn Hughes – The Wild just got smacked by the Blackhawks at home and Quinn Hughes and company are not going to allow that to happen again. The Flames stink, just like the Blackhawks, and the Wild feel that they should not lose home games to teams of that ilk. Hughes is a horse that plays all situations and leads the entire NHL in ice time, so if the Wild blast the Flames at home, there’s a good chance that Hughes is filling up the stat sheet.
🏁 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.
