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
Logan Mailloux – This kid is finally developing into the NHL caliber defenseman that Montreal thought he would be. Mailloux is playing top pairing minutes and seeing ice time on both the powerplay and penalty kill. The Blues are in Carolina, which means that Mailloux could get the block bonus, and has several avenues to fantasy relevance. The Blues stink and want to see what they have in this player so that they can plan for their future.
Quinn Hughes – We all know how good this horse is, and this spot does not need overthought. The Wild are at home and are a far superior team to the Flyers. The Flyers are also on the second game of a back-to-back with travel. This is just a great game to target the Wild in.
Jan 19, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) carries the puck against he Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Aaron Ekblad – This guy is a horse/hero hybrid that does it all for his team. With Seth Jones on the shelf he is playing bigger minutes, running their top powerplay unit, and killing penalties. There are lots of paths to fantasy goodness here with a player like this, and he is usually mis-priced across the industry.
🏁 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.
