Bryan Rust or Drake Batherson? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Bryan Rust. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.2 fantasy points to 2.1. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), RWs ranked 14th and 16th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Bryan Rust. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.2 fantasy points to 2.1.
Categories leagues: Drake Batherson instead, 1.1 category value for the week to 0.3, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over PIT's last 5 games Bryan Rust played 3 games, 19:28 a night with 2:16 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit.
Over OTT's last 5 games Drake Batherson played 5 games, 17:09 a night with 4:22 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
PIT has a back-to-back and OTT 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 | Bryan Rust | Drake Batherson |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 2 | Line 3 |
| Power-play unit | PP2 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 19:28 (3) | 17:09 (5) |
| TOI, board | 19:53 | 17:20 |
| PP TOI, last games | 2:16 | 4:22 |
| Shots, last games | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Projected category value | 0.3 | 1.1 |
Schedule: Bryan Rust Tue @CHI, Fri @COL, Sat @VGK. Drake Batherson Mon @NJD, Tue STL, Thu NYI, Sat @PHI.
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: Bryan Rust, 2.19 fantasy points per game to 2.12.
Categories leagues: Drake Batherson instead, 77th overall against 83rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Bryan Rust | Drake Batherson |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.3 | -0.5 |
| G goals | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.6 | -0.2 |
| BLK blocked shots | 0.3 | -0.9 |
| HIT hits | -0.7 | 0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| SOG shots on goal | 0.1 | -0.3 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Bryan Rust or Drake Batherson in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Bryan Rust. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.2 fantasy points to 2.1. Categories leagues: Drake Batherson instead, 1.1 category value for the week to 0.3, because his category mix is worth more there. Over PIT's last 5 games Bryan Rust played 3 games, 19:28 a night with 2:16 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the second power-play unit. Over OTT's last 5 games Drake Batherson played 5 games, 17:09 a night with 4:22 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. PIT has a back-to-back and OTT has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Bryan Rust or Drake Batherson?
Season-long, points leagues: Bryan Rust, 2.19 fantasy points per game to 2.12. Categories leagues: Drake Batherson instead, 77th overall against 83rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Bryan Rust or Drake Batherson?
Bryan Rust is ahead per game in 3 (assists, blocked shots, shots on goal); Drake Batherson in 3 (plus-minus, hits, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number