Cole Caufield or Mikko Rantanen? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Cole Caufield, 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), RWs ranked 6th and 8th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Cole Caufield, 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: Mikko Rantanen instead, 5.9 category value for the week to 5.2, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over MTL's last 5 games Cole Caufield played 5 games, 19:57 a night with 4:01 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over DAL's last 5 games Mikko Rantanen played 5 games, 20:27 a night with 4:25 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
MTL has a back-to-back and DAL 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 | Cole Caufield | Mikko Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 1 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 19:57 (5) | 20:27 (5) |
| TOI, board | 18:32 | 20:14 |
| PP TOI, last games | 4:01 | 4:25 |
| Shots, last games | 3.8 | 2.6 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Projected category value | 5.2 | 5.9 |
Schedule: Cole Caufield Tue BUF, Wed @WSH, Sat BUF. Mikko Rantanen Tue COL, Wed @COL, Sat @CHI.
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: Cole Caufield, 2.46 fantasy points per game to 2.42.
Categories leagues: Mikko Rantanen instead, 33rd overall against 40th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Cole Caufield | Mikko Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.7 | 1.8 |
| G goals | 2.0 | 0.4 |
| +/- plus-minus | 1.0 | 0.3 |
| BLK blocked shots | -1.0 | -0.6 |
| HIT hits | -0.5 | -0.4 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.3 | 1.6 |
| SOG shots on goal | 1.5 | -0.1 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Cole Caufield or Mikko Rantanen in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Cole Caufield, 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: Mikko Rantanen instead, 5.9 category value for the week to 5.2, because his category mix is worth more there. Over MTL's last 5 games Cole Caufield played 5 games, 19:57 a night with 4:01 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over DAL's last 5 games Mikko Rantanen played 5 games, 20:27 a night with 4:25 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. MTL has a back-to-back and DAL has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Cole Caufield or Mikko Rantanen?
Season-long, points leagues: Cole Caufield, 2.46 fantasy points per game to 2.42. Categories leagues: Mikko Rantanen instead, 33rd overall against 40th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Cole Caufield or Mikko Rantanen?
Cole Caufield is ahead per game in 3 (goals, plus-minus, shots on goal); Mikko Rantanen in 4 (assists, blocked shots, hits, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number