Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Faber vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Faber projects to 2.09 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Faber had 51 points in 80 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Faber has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Cates for 1.5 ESPN points to Faber's 1.4.
Brock Faber has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Faber's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 129, Goals above expected +3.9, Top skating speed 23.0.
Cates's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Hits 102.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Faber
2.09
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.45
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Faber has the edge.
| Points per game from | Faber | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.44 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.45 | 0.35 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.12 |
| 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 Cates
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 2A, 10 SOG · Cates 1G 1A, 8 SOG
On the ice against each other (Faber's side)
7:58 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Faber's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–3
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 89.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Faber | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | MIN 2–3 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-18 | MIN 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-14 | MIN 4–1 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-26 | MIN 5–7 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-10-26 | MIN 2–6 PHI | 0G 0A 4S | 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.
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 +13.0 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Faber or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Faber projects to 2.09 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Faber had 51 points in 80 games; Cates had 47 in 82 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 Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Faber leads in 18 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 Cates done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Faber's team went 1–4. Faber had 3 points (1 goals) and Cates had 2 (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 →