Sam Bennett or Will Smith? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Will Smith. Will Smith counts 3 games left to 2 for Sam Bennett, for 5.4 projected fantasy points against 3.6. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), Cs ranked 41st and 42nd at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Will Smith. Will Smith counts 3 games left to 2 for Sam Bennett, for 5.4 projected fantasy points against 3.6.
Categories leagues: Sam Bennett instead, -4.0 category value for the week to -9.9, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over FLA's last 5 games Sam Bennett played 5 games, 19:43 a night with 4:19 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
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.
FLA 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 | Sam Bennett | Will Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 3 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Line by ice time | Line 1 | Line 1 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 19:43 (5) | 18:36 (5) |
| TOI, board | 18:45 | 18:16 |
| PP TOI, last games | 4:19 | 3:03 |
| Shots, last games | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 3.6 | 5.4 |
| Projected category value | -4.0 | -9.9 |
Schedule: Sam Bennett Mon @BUF, Tue @CBJ, Thu VAN, Sat SEA. 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: Will Smith, 1.80 fantasy points per game to 1.78.
Categories leagues: Sam Bennett instead, 146th overall against 201st, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Sam Bennett | Will Smith |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -0.3 | -0.3 |
| G goals | -0.3 | 0.4 |
| +/- plus-minus | -1.0 | -1.2 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.8 | -1.0 |
| HIT hits | 1.0 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | -0.8 | -0.1 |
| SOG shots on goal | 0.1 | -0.2 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Sam Bennett or Will Smith in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Will Smith. Will Smith counts 3 games left to 2 for Sam Bennett, for 5.4 projected fantasy points against 3.6. Categories leagues: Sam Bennett instead, -4.0 category value for the week to -9.9, because his category mix is worth more there. Over FLA's last 5 games Sam Bennett played 5 games, 19:43 a night with 4:19 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. 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. FLA has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Sam Bennett or Will Smith?
Season-long, points leagues: Will Smith, 1.80 fantasy points per game to 1.78. Categories leagues: Sam Bennett instead, 146th overall against 201st, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Sam Bennett or Will Smith?
Sam Bennett is ahead per game in 4 (plus-minus, blocked shots, hits, shots on goal); Will Smith 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