Alex Ovechkin or Rickard Rakell? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Rickard Rakell. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.9 fantasy points to 1.8. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), LWs ranked 22nd and 22nd at the position.
- FP/G
- 1.84
- Games
- 2
- Week proj.
- 3.68
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Rickard Rakell. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.9 fantasy points to 1.8.
Categories leagues: Rickard Rakell again, -1.6 category value for the week to -2.9.
Over WSH's last 5 games Alex Ovechkin played 5 games, 14:19 a night with 3:29 on the power play: line 4 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Alex Ovechkin's ice time is down: 14:19 over his last 5 games against 16:40 on the board.
Over PIT's last 5 games Rickard Rakell played 5 games, 20:14 a night with 3:33 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
WSH has a back-to-back and PIT 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 Ovechkin | Rickard Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 4 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 14:19 (5) | 20:14 (5) |
| TOI, board | 16:40 | 19:11 |
| PP TOI, last games | 3:29 | 3:33 |
| Shots, last games | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 3.7 | 3.8 |
| Projected category value | -2.9 | -1.6 |
Schedule: Alex Ovechkin Tue @CAR, Wed MTL, Sat NJD. Rickard Rakell Tue @CHI, Fri @COL, Sat @VGK.
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: Rickard Rakell, 1.91 fantasy points per game to 1.84.
Categories leagues: Rickard Rakell again, 104th overall against 128th.
| Category (z per game) | Alex Ovechkin | Rickard Rakell |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.8 | -0.6 |
| G goals | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.5 | -0.7 |
| BLK blocked shots | -1.1 | -0.0 |
| HIT hits | 0.7 | 0.2 |
| PPP power-play points | -0.5 | -0.0 |
| SOG shots on goal | 0.5 | 0.3 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Alex Ovechkin or Rickard Rakell in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Rickard Rakell. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.9 fantasy points to 1.8. Categories leagues: Rickard Rakell again, -1.6 category value for the week to -2.9. Over WSH's last 5 games Alex Ovechkin played 5 games, 14:19 a night with 3:29 on the power play: line 4 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Alex Ovechkin's ice time is down: 14:19 over his last 5 games against 16:40 on the board. Over PIT's last 5 games Rickard Rakell played 5 games, 20:14 a night with 3:33 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. WSH has a back-to-back and PIT has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Alex Ovechkin or Rickard Rakell?
Season-long, points leagues: Rickard Rakell, 1.91 fantasy points per game to 1.84. Categories leagues: Rickard Rakell again, 104th overall against 128th.
Who wins more categories, Alex Ovechkin or Rickard Rakell?
Alex Ovechkin is ahead per game in 4 (goals, plus-minus, hits, shots on goal); Rickard Rakell in 3 (assists, blocked shots, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number