Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Lawson Crouse
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Crouse had 44 in 81 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crouse has 2 left with 2 tough matchups. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 44.0%, Faceoffs won 735, Power-play points 18.
Crouse's biggest edges: Hits 212, Transition attempts /60 1.80, Luck Meter +45.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Crouse |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.29 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.28 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.30 |
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 Crouse
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 7G 7A, 46 SOG · Crouse 2G 1A, 27 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 0–0 · Nelson's defensive zone 0–1 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
11:10 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–11
- 54.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.7
- 35.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Crouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | COL 4–2 UTA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-23 | COL 1–0 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-21 | COL 3–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | COL 2–1 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-11 | NYI 2–1 UTA | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-10 | NYI 4–5 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 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 0S |
| 2022-12-16 | NYI 4–5 ARI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-10 | NYI 0–2 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-21 | NYI 4–0 ARI | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-10-23 | NYI 3–0 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
Lawson Crouse
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Lawson Crouse 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 Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Crouse had 44 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 Nelson or Lawson Crouse?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Crouse done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 11–5. Nelson had 14 points (7 goals) and Crouse had 3 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Crouse?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 0 and Crouse 3 of their 3 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 →