Who to start · 2025-26
Bowen Byram vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.
Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Byram has 1 game left; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Smith's 1.9.
Will Smith has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Byram's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Top skating speed 22.9, Blocked shots 93.
Smith's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.0, Offensive-zone start % 68.9%, Forecheck xG /60 0.28.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bowen Byram
1.37
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Will Smith has the edge.
| Points per game from | Byram | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.24 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.59 | 0.08 |
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: Byram vs Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Byram 0G 2A, 4 SOG · Smith 1G 2A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Byram's side)
13:54 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–12
- 53.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.6
- 67.1%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Byram | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | BUF 5–0 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-03-10 | BUF 6–3 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-04 | BUF 2–6 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-23 | BUF 4–2 SJS | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 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.
Bowen Byram
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bowen Byram or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37. Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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, Bowen Byram or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Will Smith leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Byram and Smith done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 3–1. Byram had 2 points (0 goals) and Smith had 3 (1 goals).
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 →