Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 18–18.
Matthews's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 59.7%, Draw Equity /100 +0.103, Offensive-zone start % 58.9%.
Byfield's biggest edges: Corsi 53.1%, Goals above expected +0.7, 20+ mph bursts 297.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.32 |
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 custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Matthews vs Byfield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Matthews 2G 3A, 17 SOG · Byfield 0G 2A, 10 SOG
Matthews's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 1–1 · Matthews's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-29 | TOR 3–1 LAK | 1G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-16 | TOR 6–2 LAK | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-02 | TOR 3–0 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-10-31 | TOR 1–4 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
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
Sep 28 to Oct 4. 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 use ESPN default points for the games left.
Auston Matthews
3games (1 left)
2.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 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, Auston Matthews or Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 18–18 across 36 stats where both qualify.
- How have Matthews and Byfield done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 3–1. Matthews had 5 points (2 goals) and Byfield had 2 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or Byfield?
- Against each other, Matthews has won 2 and Byfield 1 of their 3 head-to-head draws.
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 →