Chris Kreider or Lawson Crouse? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Chris Kreider, 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), LWs ranked 33rd and 35th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Chris Kreider, 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: Lawson Crouse instead, -3.0 category value for the week to -7.1, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over MTL's last 5 games Chris Kreider played 5 games, 15:14 a night with 3:38 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over UTA's last 5 games Lawson Crouse played 5 games, 14:49 a night with 0:03 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and no regular power-play unit.
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 | Chris Kreider | Lawson Crouse |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 3 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | None |
| TOI, last games | 15:14 (5) | 14:49 (5) |
| TOI, board | 16:41 | 16:12 |
| PP TOI, last games | 3:38 | 0:03 |
| Shots, last games | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Projected category value | -7.1 | -3.0 |
Schedule: Chris Kreider Tue BUF, Wed @WSH, Sat BUF. Lawson Crouse Tue TOR, Thu @EDM, Sat EDM.
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: Chris Kreider, 1.57 fantasy points per game to 1.53.
Categories leagues: Lawson Crouse instead, 134th overall against 216th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Chris Kreider | Lawson Crouse |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.4 | -1.4 |
| G goals | -0.2 | -0.3 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.6 | 0.9 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.9 | -0.3 |
| HIT hits | 0.1 | 1.9 |
| PPP power-play points | -0.5 | -1.5 |
| SOG shots on goal | -1.0 | -0.9 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Chris Kreider or Lawson Crouse in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Chris Kreider, 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: Lawson Crouse instead, -3.0 category value for the week to -7.1, because his category mix is worth more there. Over MTL's last 5 games Chris Kreider played 5 games, 15:14 a night with 3:38 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over UTA's last 5 games Lawson Crouse played 5 games, 14:49 a night with 0:03 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and no regular power-play unit. MTL has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Chris Kreider or Lawson Crouse?
Season-long, points leagues: Chris Kreider, 1.57 fantasy points per game to 1.53. Categories leagues: Lawson Crouse instead, 134th overall against 216th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Chris Kreider or Lawson Crouse?
Chris Kreider is ahead per game in 3 (assists, goals, power-play points); Lawson Crouse in 4 (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