Who to start · 2025-26
Auston Matthews vs William Nylander
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Auston Matthews's 2.31.
Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 games.
This week Matthews has 1 game left; Nylander has 1 left. We project Matthews for 2.7 ESPN points to Nylander's 2.1.
William Nylander has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Matthews's biggest edges: Blocked shots 81, Faceoffs won 580, Plus/minus −4.
Nylander's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.0, Luck Meter +74, Top skating speed 23.5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Auston Matthews
2.31
fantasy points per game
William Nylander
2.36
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, William Nylander has the edge.
| Points per game from | Matthews | Nylander |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.79 | 1.05 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.36 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.24 |
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 Nylander
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Matthews blocked 1 of Nylander's shots; Nylander blocked 1 of Matthews's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
215:15 at 5-on-5 over 34 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 200–247
- 44.7%
- Expected goals
- 8.4–10.6
- 44.2%
- Goals
- 12–13
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)
William Nylander
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.1 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Auston Matthews or William Nylander in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Auston Matthews's 2.31. Matthews had 53 points in 60 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 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 Nylander?
- On 2025-26 numbers, William Nylander leads in 17 of 34 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 →