Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikko Rantanen's 2.21.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Nelson's biggest edges: Corsi 57.5%, Fenwick 57.3%, Forecheck xG /60 0.42.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Luck Meter +45, Ascension score 54, On-ice PDO 1046.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.22 |
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 Rantanen
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 6G 10A, 46 SOG · Rantanen 7G 15A, 76 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Nelson's defensive zone 2–3 (2019-20 to 2024-25)
Nelson blocked 0 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 2 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
8:50 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–4
- 75.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 58.8%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | COL 2–0 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-11 | COL 4–5 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-05-03 · PO | COL 2–4 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 3G 1A 4S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | COL 7–4 DAL | 0G 2A 0S | 1G 3A 2S |
| 2025-04-28 · PO | COL 2–6 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 6S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | COL 4–0 DAL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-23 · PO | COL 1–2 DAL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-04-21 · PO | COL 3–4 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-19 · PO | COL 5–1 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-16 | COL 4–3 DAL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-25 | NYI 3–2 CAR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-10-14 | NYI 6–2 COL | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 23 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)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Mikko Rantanen 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 Mikko Rantanen's 2.21. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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 Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Nelson and Rantanen done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 12–11. Nelson had 16 points (6 goals) and Rantanen had 22 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Rantanen?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 2 and Rantanen 3 of their 5 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 →