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
Rasmus Ristolainen – As of right now this giant Swede is a hero that also is running the Flyers’ top powerplay unit. He usually is a competent shot blocker, and now he has a smidge of offensive upside; fun!
Zach Werenski – The Norris Trophy frontrunner continues his campaign in Montreal, which is always an absolute barn burner of a game. The Habs style of play really caters to Werenski’s pace and offensive upside, and I will be leaning on that a little bit here. If the Blue Jackets make the playoffs, Werenski should win the Norris Trophy to go along with his Olympic gold medal where he posterized Nathan Mackinnon.
Feb 28, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) awaits the face-off against the New York Islanders in the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Philip Broberg – The Blues are at home against the Sharks who pretty much have to win the rest of their games to have a chance at the playoffs. Broberg is a very young and skilled defenseman that quarterbacks the top powerplay unit. He is also very active with his stick which gives him a nice floor/ceiling combo at an affordable price.
Shea Theodore – This horse plays a lot of minutes and could fall into a nice fantasy game against the Oilers who just hemmerage goals and fantasy points to opposing teams. Theodore can do a little bit of this and that to score points, but he is also an elite puck mover which gives him a nice path to find assists in this matchup.
🏁 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.
