Mika Zibanejad or Steven Stamkos? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Steven Stamkos, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.4 fantasy points to 2.3. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), Cs ranked 17th and 19th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Steven Stamkos, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.4 fantasy points to 2.3.
Categories leagues: Mika Zibanejad instead, 3.7 category value for the week to 1.2, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over NYR's last 5 games Mika Zibanejad played 5 games, 20:53 a night with 3:53 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over NSH's last 5 games Steven Stamkos played 5 games, 19:40 a night with 4:17 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 | Mika Zibanejad | Steven Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 0 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 20:53 (5) | 19:40 (5) |
| TOI, board | 20:44 | 18:12 |
| PP TOI, last games | 3:53 | 4:17 |
| Shots, last games | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Projected category value | 3.7 | 1.2 |
Schedule: Mika Zibanejad Tue TBL, Thu @NJD, Sat @CBJ. Steven Stamkos Tue VGK, Thu SJS, Sat STL.
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.
Advertisement
The rest-of-season call
Season-long, points leagues: Steven Stamkos, 2.37 fantasy points per game to 2.30.
Categories leagues: Mika Zibanejad instead, 50th overall against 74th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Mika Zibanejad | Steven Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.6 | -0.5 |
| G goals | 0.3 | 1.6 |
| +/- plus-minus | -0.7 | -1.6 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.2 | -0.6 |
| HIT hits | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| PPP power-play points | 1.1 | 1.5 |
| SOG shots on goal | 0.2 | 0.1 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Steven Stamkos in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Steven Stamkos, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.4 fantasy points to 2.3. Categories leagues: Mika Zibanejad instead, 3.7 category value for the week to 1.2, because his category mix is worth more there. Over NYR's last 5 games Mika Zibanejad played 5 games, 20:53 a night with 3:53 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over NSH's last 5 games Steven Stamkos played 5 games, 19:40 a night with 4:17 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, Mika Zibanejad or Steven Stamkos?
Season-long, points leagues: Steven Stamkos, 2.37 fantasy points per game to 2.30. Categories leagues: Mika Zibanejad instead, 50th overall against 74th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Mika Zibanejad or Steven Stamkos?
Mika Zibanejad is ahead per game in 5 (assists, plus-minus, blocked shots, hits, shots on goal); Steven Stamkos in 2 (goals, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number