Alex DeBrincat or Cole Caufield? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Alex DeBrincat, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.51 fantasy points to 2.46. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), RWs ranked 5th and 6th at the position.
- FP/G
- 2.46
- Games
- 2
- Week proj.
- 4.91
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Alex DeBrincat, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.51 fantasy points to 2.46.
Categories leagues: Alex DeBrincat again, 5.6 category value for the week to 5.2.
Over DET's last 5 games Alex DeBrincat played 5 games, 19:55 a night with 4:24 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over MTL's last 5 games Cole Caufield played 5 games, 19:57 a night with 4:01 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
MTL has a back-to-back in Week 3.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Week 3 (Oct 12-18), side by side
| This week | Alex DeBrincat | Cole Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 19:55 (5) | 19:57 (5) |
| TOI, board | 18:47 | 18:32 |
| PP TOI, last games | 4:24 | 4:01 |
| Shots, last games | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 5.0 | 4.9 |
| Projected category value | 5.6 | 5.2 |
Schedule: Alex DeBrincat Tue NJD, Thu PHI, Sat SJS. Cole Caufield Tue BUF, Wed @WSH, Sat BUF.
Projections are the board's per-game value times the games counted. A skater listed out, or who missed his team's last three games, counts none. A goalie counts his team's games times his share of its recent starts. Lines and power-play units are by ice time over the team's last five games. Stats and schedule from the NHL; injury designations from ESPN's public NHL injury list.
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The rest-of-season call
Season-long, points leagues: Alex DeBrincat, 2.51 fantasy points per game to 2.46.
Categories leagues: Alex DeBrincat again, 36th overall against 40th.
| Category (z per game) | Alex DeBrincat | Cole Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.3 | -0.7 |
| G goals | 1.2 | 2.0 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.4 | 1.0 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.6 | -1.0 |
| HIT hits | -0.6 | -0.5 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| SOG shots on goal | 1.9 | 1.5 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Cole Caufield in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Alex DeBrincat, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.51 fantasy points to 2.46. Categories leagues: Alex DeBrincat again, 5.6 category value for the week to 5.2. Over DET's last 5 games Alex DeBrincat played 5 games, 19:55 a night with 4:24 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over MTL's last 5 games Cole Caufield played 5 games, 19:57 a night with 4:01 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. MTL has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Alex DeBrincat or Cole Caufield?
Season-long, points leagues: Alex DeBrincat, 2.51 fantasy points per game to 2.46. Categories leagues: Alex DeBrincat again, 36th overall against 40th.
Who wins more categories, Alex DeBrincat or Cole Caufield?
Alex DeBrincat is ahead per game in 3 (assists, blocked shots, shots on goal); Cole Caufield in 4 (goals, plus-minus, hits, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number