Brock Nelson or Sidney Crosby? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Sidney Crosby, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.04 fantasy points to 2.02. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), Cs ranked 25th and 26th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Sidney Crosby, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.04 fantasy points to 2.02.
Categories leagues: Brock Nelson instead, -0.6 category value for the week to -2.2, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over COL's last 5 games Brock Nelson played 5 games, 17:07 a night with 1:30 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit.
Brock Nelson's ice time is down: 17:07 over his last 5 games against 19:09 on the board.
Over PIT's last 5 games Sidney Crosby played 5 games, 20:16 a night with 3:38 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
COL 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 | Brock Nelson | Sidney Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 2 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP2 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 17:07 (5) | 20:16 (5) |
| TOI, board | 19:09 | 19:22 |
| PP TOI, last games | 1:30 | 3:38 |
| Shots, last games | 1.4 | 2.6 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Projected category value | -0.6 | -2.2 |
Schedule: Brock Nelson Tue @DAL, Wed DAL, Fri PIT. Sidney Crosby 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: Sidney Crosby, 2.04 fantasy points per game to 2.02.
Categories leagues: Brock Nelson instead, 91st overall against 115th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Brock Nelson | Sidney Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.3 | 0.4 |
| G goals | 0.7 | 0.2 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.1 | -1.0 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.1 | -0.6 |
| HIT hits | -0.7 | -0.2 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| SOG shots on goal | -0.4 | 0.1 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Brock Nelson or Sidney Crosby in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Sidney Crosby, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.04 fantasy points to 2.02. Categories leagues: Brock Nelson instead, -0.6 category value for the week to -2.2, because his category mix is worth more there. Over COL's last 5 games Brock Nelson played 5 games, 17:07 a night with 1:30 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit. Brock Nelson's ice time is down: 17:07 over his last 5 games against 19:09 on the board. Over PIT's last 5 games Sidney Crosby played 5 games, 20:16 a night with 3:38 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. COL has a back-to-back and PIT has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Brock Nelson or Sidney Crosby?
Season-long, points leagues: Sidney Crosby, 2.04 fantasy points per game to 2.02. Categories leagues: Brock Nelson instead, 91st overall against 115th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Brock Nelson or Sidney Crosby?
Brock Nelson is ahead per game in 4 (goals, plus-minus, blocked shots, power-play points); Sidney Crosby in 3 (assists, hits, shots on goal).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number