Mikko Rantanen or Nick Schmaltz? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nick Schmaltz, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.44 fantasy points to 2.42. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), RWs ranked 9th and 15th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nick Schmaltz, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.44 fantasy points to 2.42.
Categories leagues: Mikko Rantanen instead, 5.8 category value for the week to 3.3, because his category mix is worth more there.
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.
Over UTA's last 5 games Nick Schmaltz played 5 games, 18:46 a night with 5:06 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
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 | Mikko Rantanen | Nick Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| 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 1 | Line 2 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 20:27 (5) | 18:46 (5) |
| TOI, board | 20:14 | 19:29 |
| PP TOI, last games | 4:25 | 5:06 |
| Shots, last games | 2.6 | 4.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| Projected category value | 5.8 | 3.3 |
Schedule: Mikko Rantanen Tue COL, Wed @COL, Sat @CHI. Nick Schmaltz 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: Nick Schmaltz, 2.44 fantasy points per game to 2.42.
Categories leagues: Mikko Rantanen instead, 37th overall against 53rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Mikko Rantanen | Nick Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 1.8 | -0.2 |
| G goals | 0.4 | 1.7 |
| +/- plus-minus | 0.3 | -0.1 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.6 | -0.4 |
| HIT hits | -0.4 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| 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 Mikko Rantanen or Nick Schmaltz in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Nick Schmaltz, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.44 fantasy points to 2.42. Categories leagues: Mikko Rantanen instead, 5.8 category value for the week to 3.3, because his category mix is worth more there. 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. Over UTA's last 5 games Nick Schmaltz played 5 games, 18:46 a night with 5:06 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. DAL has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Mikko Rantanen or Nick Schmaltz?
Season-long, points leagues: Nick Schmaltz, 2.44 fantasy points per game to 2.42. Categories leagues: Mikko Rantanen instead, 37th overall against 53rd, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Mikko Rantanen or Nick Schmaltz?
Mikko Rantanen is ahead per game in 4 (assists, plus-minus, hits, power-play points); Nick Schmaltz in 3 (goals, blocked shots, shots on goal).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number