Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 65, High-danger chances 57.1%, Faceoffs won 735.
Smith's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.05, Ascension score 64, Luck Meter +40.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.08 |
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 Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 2G 1A, 9 SOG · Smith 0G 0A, 6 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Nelson's defensive zone 1–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
16:10 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–8
- 63.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 58.6%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-04 | COL 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-26 | COL 6–0 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-01 | COL 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-18 | NYI 4–1 SJS | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
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 C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Will Smith 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 Will Smith's 1.94. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 22 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 Smith done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 3–1. Nelson had 3 points (2 goals) and Smith had 0 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Smith?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 1 and Smith 1 of their 2 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 →