Brock Boeser or Valeri Nichushkin? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Brock Boeser, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.6 fantasy points to 1.5. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), RWs ranked 39th and 40th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Brock Boeser, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.6 fantasy points to 1.5.
Categories leagues: Valeri Nichushkin instead, -6.9 category value for the week to -10.7, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over VAN's last 5 games Brock Boeser played 5 games, 17:58 a night with 3:40 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over CBJ's last 4 games Valeri Nichushkin played 4 games, 16:15 a night with 1:16 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit.
CBJ 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 | Brock Boeser | Valeri Nichushkin |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 2 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP2 |
| TOI, last games | 17:58 (5) | 16:15 (4) |
| TOI, board | 18:41 | 17:29 |
| PP TOI, last games | 3:40 | 1:16 |
| Shots, last games | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Projected category value | -10.7 | -6.9 |
Schedule: Brock Boeser Tue @NYI, Thu @FLA, Sat @TBL. Valeri Nichushkin Tue FLA, Sat NYR, Sun @MIN.
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: Brock Boeser, 1.55 fantasy points per game to 1.54.
Categories leagues: Valeri Nichushkin instead, 208th overall against 348th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Brock Boeser | Valeri Nichushkin |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.7 | -0.4 |
| G goals | -0.4 | -0.5 |
| +/- plus-minus | -2.8 | -0.1 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.9 | -0.7 |
| HIT hits | -0.4 | -0.2 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.4 | -1.2 |
| SOG shots on goal | -0.6 | -0.3 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Brock Boeser or Valeri Nichushkin in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Brock Boeser, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 1.6 fantasy points to 1.5. Categories leagues: Valeri Nichushkin instead, -6.9 category value for the week to -10.7, because his category mix is worth more there. Over VAN's last 5 games Brock Boeser played 5 games, 17:58 a night with 3:40 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over CBJ's last 4 games Valeri Nichushkin played 4 games, 16:15 a night with 1:16 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit. CBJ has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Brock Boeser or Valeri Nichushkin?
Season-long, points leagues: Brock Boeser, 1.55 fantasy points per game to 1.54. Categories leagues: Valeri Nichushkin instead, 208th overall against 348th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Brock Boeser or Valeri Nichushkin?
Brock Boeser is ahead per game in 2 (goals, power-play points); Valeri Nichushkin in 5 (assists, plus-minus, blocked shots, hits, shots on goal).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number