Who to start · 2025-26
Alex Bump vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Bump projects to 1.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.05.
Bump had 9 points in 17 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Bump has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Bump for 2.4 to Cates's 2.2 over the games left.
Alex Bump has the better number in 2 of the 2 stats both are ranked on.
Bump's biggest edges: Ascension score 28, Luck Meter +31.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Alex Bump rates ahead, -0.8 to -1.3 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Bump is cooling, 0 P in last 4 (0.53/GP before); Cates is falling, ixG/60 0.70 (was 1.03).
- • Alex Bump is a rookie: 23 NHL games before this season.
- • Bump has played 4 of the Flyers' 11 games since Sep 30 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 4 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • Last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 19): 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 9 SOG.
Philadelphia Flyers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex Bump
-0.8
category z-score total
Noah Cates
-1.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Alex Bump has the edge (Bump wins 4, Cates wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Bump | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.23 | 0.13 |
| Assists / game | 0.19 | 0.24 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.14 | 0.07 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.06 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.33 | 1.31 |
| Hits / game | 1.16 | 1.06 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Bump vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Bump blocked 0 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 1 of Bump's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
73:48 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 66–65
- 50.4%
- Expected goals
- 2.9–3.3
- 46.4%
- Goals
- 5–2
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Alex Bump
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF1.2 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA1.2 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Noah Cates
3games (2 left)
2.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF1.1 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA1.1 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex Bump or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Bump projects to 1.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.05. Bump had 9 points in 17 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Alex Bump or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex Bump leads in 2 of 2 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →