Jason Zucker or Will Smith? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Will Smith. Will Smith counts 2 games left to 0 for Jason Zucker, for 3.6 projected fantasy points against 0.0. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), LWs ranked 26th and 41st at the position.
The Week 3 call
Jason Zucker has not played in BUF's last 7 games, so his week counts no games while that stands.
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Will Smith. Will Smith counts 2 games left to 0 for Jason Zucker, for 3.6 projected fantasy points against 0.0.
Categories leagues: Jason Zucker instead, 0.0 category value for the week to -6.7, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over SJS's last 5 games Will Smith played 5 games, 18:36 a night with 3:03 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
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 | Jason Zucker | Will Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 0 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Line by ice time | - | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | None | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | - | 18:36 (5) |
| TOI, board | 15:37 | 18:16 |
| PP TOI, last games | - | 3:03 |
| Shots, last games | - | 1.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 0.0 | 3.6 |
| Projected category value | 0.0 | -6.7 |
Schedule: Jason Zucker Mon FLA, Tue @MTL, Thu @TOR, Sat @MTL. Will Smith Tue BOS, Thu @NSH, Sat @DET.
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: Jason Zucker, 1.81 fantasy points per game to 1.80.
Categories leagues: Jason Zucker again, 166th overall against 205th.
| Category (z per game) | Jason Zucker | Will Smith |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.8 | -0.3 |
| G goals | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.8 | -1.2 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.9 | -1.0 |
| HIT hits | -0.2 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | 0.1 | -0.1 |
| SOG shots on goal | -0.4 | -0.2 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Jason Zucker or Will Smith in Week 3?
Jason Zucker has not played in BUF's last 7 games, so his week counts no games while that stands. Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Will Smith. Will Smith counts 2 games left to 0 for Jason Zucker, for 3.6 projected fantasy points against 0.0. Categories leagues: Jason Zucker instead, 0.0 category value for the week to -6.7, because his category mix is worth more there. Over SJS's last 5 games Will Smith played 5 games, 18:36 a night with 3:03 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Jason Zucker or Will Smith?
Season-long, points leagues: Jason Zucker, 1.81 fantasy points per game to 1.80. Categories leagues: Jason Zucker again, 166th overall against 205th.
Who wins more categories, Jason Zucker or Will Smith?
Jason Zucker is ahead per game in 5 (goals, plus-minus, blocked shots, hits, power-play points); Will Smith in 2 (assists, shots on goal).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number