Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Auston Matthews projects to 2.31 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Eklund has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.6.
William Eklund has the better number in 16 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 580, On-ice PDO 1016, Forecheck xG /60 0.31.
Eklund's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.9%, Corsi 50.1%, Penalty minutes 32.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.56
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Auston Matthews has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.90 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.68 | 0.33 |
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 Eklund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Matthews 3G 2A, 24 SOG · Eklund 1G 3A, 10 SOG
Matthews's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Matthews's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24)
On the ice against each other (Matthews's side)
1:35 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Matthews's side
- Shot attempts
- 0–2
- 0.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Matthews | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-11 | TOR 2–3 SJS | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-03-27 | TOR 5–6 SJS | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-03 | TOR 2–3 SJS | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-01-09 | TOR 7–1 SJS | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-06 | TOR 4–1 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-10-22 | TOR 3–5 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
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 MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.7 pts
William Eklund
1games
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or William Eklund 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 William Eklund's 1.62. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 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 William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, William Eklund leads in 16 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Matthews and Eklund done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Matthews's team went 2–4. Matthews had 5 points (3 goals) and Eklund had 4 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Matthews or Eklund?
- Against each other, Matthews has won 0 and Eklund 1 of their 1 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 →