Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Clayton Keller
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Clayton Keller's 2.15.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Keller had 88 in 82 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Keller has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Keller for 2.9 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Nelson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.1, Faceoffs won 735, Blocked shots 65.
Keller's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 69.8%, Hardest shot 91.3, Ascension score 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Clayton Keller
2.15
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Keller |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.59 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.83 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.21 |
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: Nelson vs Keller
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.
Nelson 8G 7A, 48 SOG · Keller 3G 10A, 59 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 1–0 · Nelson's defensive zone 1–1 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Nelson blocked 0 of Keller's shots; Keller blocked 1 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
25:34 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–28
- 46.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.3
- 32.4%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Keller |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | COL 4–2 UTA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-12-23 | COL 1–0 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-21 | COL 3–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | COL 2–1 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-11 | NYI 2–1 UTA | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-10 | NYI 4–5 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-01-04 | NYI 5–1 ARI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-17 | NYI 1–0 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-16 | NYI 4–5 ARI | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-10 | NYI 0–2 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2022-01-21 | NYI 4–0 ARI | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-10-23 | NYI 3–0 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 18 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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Clayton Keller
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Clayton Keller in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Clayton Keller's 2.15. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Keller had 88 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 Nelson or Clayton Keller?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Nelson and Keller done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 12–6. Nelson had 15 points (8 goals) and Keller had 13 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Keller?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 3 and Keller 1 of their 4 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 →