Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Byfield for 1.4 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.42, Plus/minus +15, Offensive-zone start % 54.2%.
Byfield's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.78, Ascension score 56, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42.
Head to head on the dot, Byfield leads Nelson 34–22.
- • 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, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.32 |
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 Byfield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 5G 8A, 25 SOG · Byfield 4G 4A, 44 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 6–11 · neutral 14–10 · Nelson's defensive zone 2–13 (2021-22 to 2026-27)
Nelson blocked 1 of Byfield's shots; Byfield blocked 0 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
26:36 at 5-on-5 over 7 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–28
- 46.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.4
- 31.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-30 | COL 8–4 LAK | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | COL 5–1 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-04-23 · PO | COL 4–2 LAK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | COL 2–1 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | COL 2–1 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-29 | COL 5–2 LAK | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-07 | COL 4–1 LAK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-12 | COL 4–5 LAK | 2G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2025-03-27 | COL 4–0 LAK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-10 | NYI 1–3 LAK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-11 | NYI 0–3 LAK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-09 | NYI 3–2 LAK | 0G 0A 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)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Quinton Byfield 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 Quinton Byfield's 1.57. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 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 Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 25 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Byfield done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 9–7. Nelson had 13 points (5 goals) and Byfield had 8 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Byfield?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 22 and Byfield 34 of their 56 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 →