Alex DeBrincat or Jake Guentzel? 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 2.50. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), RWs ranked 5th and 13th at the position.
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 2.50.
Categories leagues: Jake Guentzel instead, 5.9 category value for the week to 5.6, because his category mix is worth more there.
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 TBL's last 5 games Jake Guentzel played 5 games, 20:52 a night with 5:52 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
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 | Jake Guentzel |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 2 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 19:55 (5) | 20:52 (5) |
| TOI, board | 18:47 | 20:22 |
| PP TOI, last games | 4:24 | 5:52 |
| Shots, last games | 3.6 | 3.0 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Projected category value | 5.6 | 5.9 |
Schedule: Alex DeBrincat Tue NJD, Thu PHI, Sat SJS. Jake Guentzel Tue @NYR, Thu SEA, Sat VAN.
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 2.50.
Categories leagues: Jake Guentzel instead, 34th overall against 36th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Alex DeBrincat | Jake Guentzel |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| G goals | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.6 | -0.6 |
| HIT hits | -0.6 | -0.7 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.1 | 1.0 |
| SOG shots on goal | 1.9 | 0.7 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Jake Guentzel 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 2.50. Categories leagues: Jake Guentzel instead, 5.9 category value for the week to 5.6, because his category mix is worth more there. 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 TBL's last 5 games Jake Guentzel played 5 games, 20:52 a night with 5:52 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Alex DeBrincat or Jake Guentzel?
Season-long, points leagues: Alex DeBrincat, 2.51 fantasy points per game to 2.50. Categories leagues: Jake Guentzel instead, 34th overall against 36th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Alex DeBrincat or Jake Guentzel?
Alex DeBrincat is ahead per game in 2 (hits, shots on goal); Jake Guentzel in 4 (assists, goals, plus-minus, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number