Brady Tkachuk or Cole Caufield? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Cole Caufield, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.54 fantasy points to 2.54. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), LWs ranked 6th and 6th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Cole Caufield, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.54 fantasy points to 2.54.
Categories leagues: Brady Tkachuk instead, 7.9 category value for the week to 6.2, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over FLA's last 5 games Brady Tkachuk played 5 games, 16:44 a night with 5:13 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over MTL's last 5 games Cole Caufield played 5 games, 20:44 a night with 4:10 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Cole Caufield's ice time is up: 20:44 over his last 5 games against 18:35 on the board.
FLA has a back-to-back and 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 | Brady Tkachuk | Cole Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 3 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 16:44 (5) | 20:44 (5) |
| TOI, board | 17:00 | 18:35 |
| PP TOI, last games | 5:13 | 4:10 |
| Shots, last games | 2.8 | 4.2 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Projected category value | 7.9 | 6.2 |
Schedule: Brady Tkachuk Mon @BUF, Tue @CBJ, Thu VAN, Sat SEA. 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: Cole Caufield, 2.54 fantasy points per game to 2.54.
Categories leagues: Brady Tkachuk instead, 23rd overall against 34th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Brady Tkachuk | Cole Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.2 | -0.6 |
| G goals | 0.6 | 2.1 |
| +/- plus-minus | -1.0 | 0.9 |
| BLK blocked shots | -1.0 | -1.0 |
| HIT hits | 2.4 | -0.4 |
| PPP power-play points | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| SOG shots on goal | 1.7 | 1.6 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Brady Tkachuk or Cole Caufield in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Cole Caufield, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.54 fantasy points to 2.54. Categories leagues: Brady Tkachuk instead, 7.9 category value for the week to 6.2, because his category mix is worth more there. Over FLA's last 5 games Brady Tkachuk played 5 games, 16:44 a night with 5:13 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over MTL's last 5 games Cole Caufield played 5 games, 20:44 a night with 4:10 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Cole Caufield's ice time is up: 20:44 over his last 5 games against 18:35 on the board. FLA has a back-to-back and MTL has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Brady Tkachuk or Cole Caufield?
Season-long, points leagues: Cole Caufield, 2.54 fantasy points per game to 2.54. Categories leagues: Brady Tkachuk instead, 23rd overall against 34th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Brady Tkachuk or Cole Caufield?
Brady Tkachuk is ahead per game in 5 (assists, blocked shots, hits, power-play points, shots on goal); Cole Caufield in 2 (goals, plus-minus).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number