Who to start · 2025-26
Brad Marchand vs Brock Nelson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brad Marchand projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brock Nelson's 2.23.
Marchand had 54 points in 52 games; Nelson had 65 in 81 games.
This week Marchand has 1 game left; Nelson has 1 left. We project Nelson for 1.6 ESPN points to Marchand's 1.5.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Marchand's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.94, Luck Meter +50, Goals above expected +6.9.
Nelson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 735, Plus/minus +15, Blocked shots 65.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brad Marchand
2.26
fantasy points per game
Brock Nelson
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brad Marchand has the edge.
| Points per game from | Marchand | Nelson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.04 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.52 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.40 |
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: Marchand vs Nelson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Marchand 18G 19A, 101 SOG · Nelson 11G 10A, 69 SOG
Marchand's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 1–1 · Marchand's defensive zone 3–1 (2018-19 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Marchand's side)
17:16 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Marchand's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–25
- 34.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–1.6
- 31.2%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marchand | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-04 | FLA 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-11 | FLA 2–6 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-27 | BOS 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-01-05 | BOS 4–5 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-27 | BOS 6–3 NYI | 2G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2024-03-02 | BOS 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-15 | BOS 5–4 NYI | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-09 | BOS 5–2 NYI | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-18 | BOS 6–2 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-18 | BOS 4–1 NYI | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-13 | BOS 4–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2022-03-26 | BOS 6–3 NYI | 1G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 35 meetings.
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.
Brad Marchand
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.5 ptsLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.6 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brad Marchand or Brock Nelson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brad Marchand projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brock Nelson's 2.23. Marchand had 54 points in 52 games; Nelson had 65 in 81 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, Brad Marchand or Brock Nelson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 23 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marchand and Nelson done against each other?
- In 35 games against each other in our data, Marchand's team went 21–14. Marchand had 37 points (18 goals) and Nelson had 21 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Marchand or Nelson?
- Against each other, Marchand has won 5 and Nelson 4 of their 9 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 →