Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Faber vs Mathew Barzal
In 2025-26, Brock Faber scored 2.09 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Faber had 51 points in 80 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Faber has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Faber for 1.4 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Faber's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, Luck Meter +55, Transition attempts /60 0.41.
Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 62.4%, Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Power-play share 72.3%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Faber
2.09
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Faber has the edge.
| Points per game from | Faber | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.93 | 0.31 |
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: Faber vs Barzal
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Faber 1G 3A, 7 SOG · Barzal 0G 1A, 8 SOG
Faber blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 0 of Faber's.
On the ice against each other (Faber's side)
12:17 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Faber's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–12
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.7
- 36.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Faber | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-10 | MIN 3–4 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-07 | MIN 5–2 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-01-15 | MIN 5–0 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-07 | MIN 4–2 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
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.
Brock Faber
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 14th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Faber or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Brock Faber scored 2.09 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Faber had 51 points in 80 games; Barzal had 72 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, Brock Faber or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Faber and Barzal done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Faber's team went 3–1. Faber had 4 points (1 goals) and Barzal had 1 (0 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 →