How to win trades and starts with Player Comparison

What it tells you

The Fantasy value panel scores both players on your scoring: the same profiles as Who Should I Start (Standard, Banger, Roto, Classic, Scoring, Hits & blocks), ESPN points, custom points, or a connected league. Categories are z-scores against qualified players at the same position, and points scoring shows fantasy points per game. Choose the sample: blended last and this season (this season counts more as games are played), one season, so far this season, or the last few games.

Your scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: it is saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in. “Who to start today” runs the Who Should I Start verdict on the same pair, with the Clear edge, Lean or Toss-up label.

• The header verdict summarises fantasy points per game, how many ranked stats each player leads, biggest percentile edges and the Ascension role trend over the last 5 games.
• Head-to-head covers team record in their meetings, points in those games, faceoffs, hits and blocks on each other, and on-ice results when they are on the ice against each other.
• “This week’s schedule” shows each player’s games left in the fantasy week, projected fantasy points, back-to-backs, goalie start chances, soft or tough matchups and schedule edge.

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Pick the two players

   Type each name and press Compare. Every pair has its own permanent page, so you can bookmark it or share it with a trade partner.

   Open Player Comparison →
2. 2

   Step 2: Set your scoring

   In “Fantasy value: your scoring”, pick your profile or points, or use your league. If you saved scoring in Who Should I Start, it is already selected.

3. 3

   Step 3: Choose the right sample

   For trades, use Blended or the full season to avoid chasing a hot streak. For a start this week, look at the last few games as well.

4. 4

   Step 4: Check today and this week

   Read “Who to start today” for the daily pick, then “This week’s schedule” for games left and matchups.

   Example comparison →
5. 5

   Step 5: Compare more than two

   Need a third or fourth option? Open the pair in Who Should I Start, which compares up to four on today’s or this week’s projections.

   Who Should I Start →

In category leagues

In category leagues, a trade is about category fit, not total value. Set your exact categories and read the per-stat table: a player who wins the categories you are weak in can be worth more to you than one with a higher overall score. The category view counts who wins how many categories and by how much.

For starts, the Who to start today panel weighs each category equally, which is how head-to-head categories are scored. Peripheral-heavy players often win more categories than their points suggest.

In points leagues

In points leagues, set ESPN points, custom points or your league and compare fantasy points per game. Then multiply by games: “This week’s schedule” shows games left, so a slightly lower per-game player with an extra game can be the better start.

For trades, compare blended per-game value and check the role trend. A player whose ice time and power-play role are rising is more likely to hold his rate than one coasting on shooting luck.

Tactics that win

• Use the sample to spot streaks

  Compare Last N games with Blended. A big gap means a hot or cold streak; trade for the cold player whose blended value holds up.

• Show your trade partner

  Send the comparison link with their league’s scoring; it makes the case in their categories.

• Check the role trend

  A Rising or Surging chip with a reason like a new PP1 spot backs up a buy.

• Use head-to-head for context only

  Past meetings are small samples. Use them as colour, not as the deciding factor.

Mistakes to avoid

• Judging on points alone

  In category leagues, hits, blocks and PPP decide matchups. Set your categories first.

• Using the wrong sample

  Early in the season, “so far” samples are tiny. Blended is the steadier read.

• Comparing a skater with a goalie for value

  Shooter versus goalie pages show the head-to-head duel, not fantasy value.

• Ignoring games left

  A start decision for the week depends on games. Check the This week section.

Frequently asked questions