Cale Makar or Zach Werenski? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Cale Makar, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.5 fantasy points to 2.4. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), defensemen ranked 2nd and 3rd at the position.
- FP/G
- 2.44
- Games
- 2
- Week proj.
- 4.89
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Cale Makar, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.5 fantasy points to 2.4.
Categories leagues: Cale Makar again, 9.4 category value for the week to 7.5.
Over COL's last 5 games Cale Makar played 5 games, 21:30 a night with 4:25 on the power play: pair 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Cale Makar's ice time is down: 21:30 over his last 5 games against 24:11 on the board.
Over CBJ's last 4 games Zach Werenski played 4 games, 29:35 a night with 3:12 on the power play: pair 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Zach Werenski's ice time is up: 29:35 over his last 4 games against 27:06 on the board.
COL has a back-to-back and 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 | Cale Makar | Zach Werenski |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Line by ice time | Pair 2 | Pair 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 21:30 (5) | 29:35 (4) |
| TOI, board | 24:11 | 27:06 |
| PP TOI, last games | 4:25 | 3:12 |
| Shots, last games | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 5.0 | 4.9 |
| Projected category value | 9.4 | 7.5 |
Schedule: Cale Makar Tue @DAL, Wed DAL, Fri PIT. Zach Werenski 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: Cale Makar, 2.50 fantasy points per game to 2.44.
Categories leagues: Cale Makar again, 15th overall against 24th.
| Category (z per game) | Cale Makar | Zach Werenski |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| G goals | 0.2 | -0.4 |
| +/- plus-minus | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| BLK blocked shots | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| HIT hits | -0.9 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| SOG shots on goal | 0.5 | 1.5 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Cale Makar or Zach Werenski in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Cale Makar, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.5 fantasy points to 2.4. Categories leagues: Cale Makar again, 9.4 category value for the week to 7.5. Over COL's last 5 games Cale Makar played 5 games, 21:30 a night with 4:25 on the power play: pair 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Cale Makar's ice time is down: 21:30 over his last 5 games against 24:11 on the board. Over CBJ's last 4 games Zach Werenski played 4 games, 29:35 a night with 3:12 on the power play: pair 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Zach Werenski's ice time is up: 29:35 over his last 4 games against 27:06 on the board. COL has a back-to-back and CBJ has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Cale Makar or Zach Werenski?
Season-long, points leagues: Cale Makar, 2.50 fantasy points per game to 2.44. Categories leagues: Cale Makar again, 15th overall against 24th.
Who wins more categories, Cale Makar or Zach Werenski?
Cale Makar is ahead per game in 4 (goals, plus-minus, hits, power-play points); Zach Werenski in 3 (assists, blocked shots, shots on goal).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number