Edge guide
How to win close category matchups with Category Catch-Up
You get an edge with Category Catch-Up by streaming for the exact categories that are still in play in your matchup. Mark what you need, double the one that matters most, punt what is already won or lost, and pick the window you have left. The tool ranks low-rostered players by projected totals in those categories only, so your last adds go where they can still change the result.
What it tells you
For each player, Catch-Up adds up projected values for every remaining game in the window, using game-level projections for hits, blocks, shots and faceoffs where they exist and season rates otherwise. Power-play points are scaled by the team’s expected power-play chances. Goalie wins use start probability, and goalies with almost no expected starts drop out.
Each category total is turned into a z-score against every player of that type with a game in the window, then multiplied by your weight: Need counts 1, Need ×2 counts 2, Punt counts 0. The score is the sum. Availability and position filters are applied after scoring, so filtering never changes the scale.
- Windows: Tonight, Tomorrow, This weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and Rest of week (today through Sunday). Games that have started drop out.
- Columns: Rostered (with trend), Games left (or games and start chance for goalies), one projected total per category, Score and Why.
- Why lines note opponents who create more hit or blocked-shot chances, line and power-play role, goalie back-to-backs and rising rostered share.
Step by step
Step 1: Choose Skaters or Goalies
Skater categories are G, A, PTS, PPP, SOG, HIT, BLK, FOW, PIM and +/-. Goalie categories are W, SV and SV% (shutouts are not projected yet).
Open Category Catch-Up →Step 2: Click categories to set needs
Each click cycles a category through need, need ×2 and punt. Mark only the categories still in play.
Step 3: Pick the window you have left
Tonight or Tomorrow for a single slot, This weekend for the Saturday and Sunday push, Rest of week on Monday through Friday.
Step 4: Filter to players you can add
Choose a rostered ceiling, or connect an ESPN or Fantrax league to show only players available in it. Toggle positions you can start.
Step 5: Check games and roles, then add
Read Games left and the Why lines. A high score from two games and a top-four role is safer than one from a single game.
In category leagues
This is a category-league tool first. In head-to-head categories, winning 6–4 instead of 5–5 is all that matters, so the best pickup is the one that moves the categories within reach, even if he would be a poor hold. On Friday of a close week, mark the two or three categories you trail by a small margin, set the one you trail by least to Need ×2, and punt the categories you lead comfortably or trail hopelessly.
Hits, blocks, shots and faceoffs are the easiest to flip late because role and opponent drive them and the projections are game-level. Goals and assists are noisy over one or two games, so do not punt a strong peripheral category to chase them.
In points leagues
Catch-Up does not use points weights, but points leagues can still use it. Mark the categories your league rewards most, for example shots and blocks where they are worth points, and pick Rest of week to rank by volume.
For a straight fantasy-points ranking with control over which nights count, Streamer Finder is the better fit.
Tactics that win
Weight the closest category ×2
The category you trail by the least is the cheapest to flip. Double it and let the rest break ties.
Punt early, not late
Punting a lost category on Thursday frees your adds for the categories you can still win.
Use the weekend window
This weekend is often where matchups flip. Saturday and Sunday games are counted separately from the rest of the week.
Save a preset link
The hub accepts ?cats= and ?window=, so a link like hits and blocks for the weekend reopens your setup in one click.
Mistakes to avoid
Marking every category
Needing everything is the same as needing nothing. The score only helps when it is focused.
Ignoring games left
A great per-game player with no games in the window scores zero. Check Games left.
Forgetting rate stats
A goalie start can hurt SV% as easily as it helps wins. Punt SV% only if you can afford the risk.
Adding over your games cap
Some leagues cap games or goalie starts. Confirm room before chasing volume.
Flip your matchup
Mark the categories still in play and pick your window. Start from a preset.
Open Category Catch-UpFrequently asked questions
How does Category Catch-Up score players?
It projects each player’s totals over the remaining games in the window, z-scores each category against every player of that type with a game, multiplies by your weights (Need 1, Need ×2 2, Punt 0) and sums them.
What windows can I pick?
Tonight, Tomorrow, This weekend and Rest of week. If a window has no games left, the tool shows the next one and says so.
Can I share or bookmark a setup?
Yes. The hub reads ?cats= (category ids such as hit,blk or w,sv) and ?window=, so a link reopens the same needs and window.
Which categories are projected?
Skaters: goals, assists, points, power-play points, shots, hits, blocks, faceoffs won, penalty minutes and plus/minus. Goalies: wins, saves and save percentage. Shutouts are not projected yet.
Can it show only my league’s free agents?
Yes, with a connected ESPN or Fantrax league. Otherwise filter by average rostered share.
What are the category pages like hits this weekend?
Each pairs one category with one window and shows the top 25 players rostered in half of leagues or fewer, with a link to customise the full tool.
More edge guides
Updated . Projections are estimates, not guarantees; check confirmed lineups and starting goalies before games lock.
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