Jackson Blake or Mats Zuccarello? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Jackson Blake. Jackson Blake counts 2 games left to 1 for Mats Zuccarello, for 3.3 projected fantasy points against 1.7. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), RWs ranked 30th and 33rd at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Jackson Blake. Jackson Blake counts 2 games left to 1 for Mats Zuccarello, for 3.3 projected fantasy points against 1.7.
Categories leagues: Mats Zuccarello instead, -2.4 category value for the week to -4.3, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over CAR's last 5 games Jackson Blake played 5 games, 17:11 a night with 4:24 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over LAK's last 4 games Mats Zuccarello played 3 games, 18:11 a night with 4:13 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
CAR 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 | Jackson Blake | Mats Zuccarello |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 1 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 2 | Line 2 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 17:11 (5) | 18:11 (3) |
| TOI, board | 16:59 | 18:35 |
| PP TOI, last games | 4:24 | 4:13 |
| Shots, last games | 2.8 | 0.3 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 3.3 | 1.7 |
| Projected category value | -4.3 | -2.4 |
Schedule: Jackson Blake Tue WSH, Sat @WPG, Sun @CGY. Mats Zuccarello Tue EDM, Sat BOS.
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: Mats Zuccarello, 1.71 fantasy points per game to 1.66.
Categories leagues: Jackson Blake instead, 149th overall against 164th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Jackson Blake | Mats Zuccarello |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| G goals | -0.5 | -0.6 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.2 | -0.5 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.7 | -0.8 |
| HIT hits | -1.1 | -1.0 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| SOG shots on goal | -0.1 | -0.8 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Jackson Blake or Mats Zuccarello in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Jackson Blake. Jackson Blake counts 2 games left to 1 for Mats Zuccarello, for 3.3 projected fantasy points against 1.7. Categories leagues: Mats Zuccarello instead, -2.4 category value for the week to -4.3, because his category mix is worth more there. Over CAR's last 5 games Jackson Blake played 5 games, 17:11 a night with 4:24 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over LAK's last 4 games Mats Zuccarello played 3 games, 18:11 a night with 4:13 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. CAR has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Jackson Blake or Mats Zuccarello?
Season-long, points leagues: Mats Zuccarello, 1.71 fantasy points per game to 1.66. Categories leagues: Jackson Blake instead, 149th overall against 164th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Jackson Blake or Mats Zuccarello?
Jackson Blake is ahead per game in 3 (goals, plus-minus, shots on goal); Mats Zuccarello in 3 (assists, hits, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number