Auston Matthews or Kirill Kaprizov? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Kirill Kaprizov. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.9 fantasy points to 2.8. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), Cs ranked 1st and 7th at the position.
- FP/G
- 2.77
- Games
- 2
- Week proj.
- 5.53
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Kirill Kaprizov. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.9 fantasy points to 2.8.
Categories leagues: Kirill Kaprizov again, 9.8 category value for the week to 8.3.
Over TOR's last 5 games Auston Matthews played 5 games, 22:08 a night with 4:01 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over MIN's last 5 games Kirill Kaprizov played 5 games, 21:21 a night with 2:42 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
MIN 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 | Auston Matthews | Kirill Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 22:08 (5) | 21:21 (5) |
| TOI, board | 21:08 | 21:57 |
| PP TOI, last games | 4:01 | 2:42 |
| Shots, last games | 3.6 | 2.8 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 5.5 | 5.8 |
| Projected category value | 8.3 | 9.8 |
Schedule: Auston Matthews Tue @UTA, Thu BUF, Sat NYI. Kirill Kaprizov Mon VGK, Tue @WPG, Thu STL, Sun CBJ.
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: Kirill Kaprizov, 2.91 fantasy points per game to 2.77.
Categories leagues: Kirill Kaprizov again, 14th overall against 20th.
| Category (z per game) | Auston Matthews | Kirill Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| G goals | 1.4 | 2.6 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.3 | 0.5 |
| BLK blocked shots | 0.9 | -0.8 |
| HIT hits | -0.5 | -0.6 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.2 | 1.3 |
| SOG shots on goal | 2.2 | 1.5 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Auston Matthews or Kirill Kaprizov in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Kirill Kaprizov. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.9 fantasy points to 2.8. Categories leagues: Kirill Kaprizov again, 9.8 category value for the week to 8.3. Over TOR's last 5 games Auston Matthews played 5 games, 22:08 a night with 4:01 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over MIN's last 5 games Kirill Kaprizov played 5 games, 21:21 a night with 2:42 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. MIN has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Auston Matthews or Kirill Kaprizov?
Season-long, points leagues: Kirill Kaprizov, 2.91 fantasy points per game to 2.77. Categories leagues: Kirill Kaprizov again, 14th overall against 20th.
Who wins more categories, Auston Matthews or Kirill Kaprizov?
Auston Matthews is ahead per game in 4 (assists, blocked shots, hits, shots on goal); Kirill Kaprizov in 3 (goals, plus-minus, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number