Timo Meier or Will Smith? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Will Smith. Will Smith counts 3 games left to 2 for Timo Meier, for 5.4 projected fantasy points against 3.6. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), RWs ranked 26th and 41st 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 Timo Meier, for 5.4 projected fantasy points against 3.6.
Categories leagues: Timo Meier instead, -3.8 category value for the week to -10.1, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over NJD's last 5 games Timo Meier played 5 games, 16:55 a night with 1:48 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the second 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.
NJD 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 | Timo Meier | 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 | PP2 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 16:55 (5) | 18:36 (5) |
| TOI, board | 18:08 | 18:16 |
| PP TOI, last games | 1:48 | 3:03 |
| Shots, last games | 4.2 | 1.4 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 3.6 | 5.4 |
| Projected category value | -3.8 | -10.1 |
Schedule: Timo Meier Mon OTT, Tue @DET, Thu NYR, Sat @WSH. 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 1.80.
Categories leagues: Timo Meier instead, 138th overall against 205th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Timo Meier | Will Smith |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | -1.3 | -0.3 |
| G goals | -0.5 | 0.4 |
| +/- plus-minus | -1.6 | -1.2 |
| BLK blocked shots | -0.4 | -1.0 |
| HIT hits | 0.9 | -0.9 |
| PPP power-play points | -1.1 | -0.1 |
| SOG shots on goal | 2.1 | -0.2 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Timo Meier 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 Timo Meier, for 5.4 projected fantasy points against 3.6. Categories leagues: Timo Meier instead, -3.8 category value for the week to -10.1, because his category mix is worth more there. Over NJD's last 5 games Timo Meier played 5 games, 16:55 a night with 1:48 on the power play: line 1 by even-strength ice time and the second 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. NJD has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Timo Meier or Will Smith?
Season-long, points leagues: Will Smith, 1.80 fantasy points per game to 1.80. Categories leagues: Timo Meier instead, 138th overall against 205th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Timo Meier or Will Smith?
Timo Meier is ahead per game in 3 (blocked shots, hits, shots on goal); Will Smith in 4 (assists, goals, plus-minus, power-play points).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number