Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Zach Werenski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Werenski projects to 2.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brock Nelson's 2.23.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Werenski had 81 in 75 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; Werenski has 1 left. We project Werenski for 2.5 ESPN points to Nelson's 2.0.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Nelson's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 36, Blocked shots 65, Forecheck xG /60 0.42.
Werenski's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.01, Luck Meter +53, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.09.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Zach Werenski
2.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Zach Werenski has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Werenski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.55 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.86 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.62 |
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 Werenski
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 5G 2A, 46 SOG · Werenski 2G 9A, 62 SOG
Nelson blocked 1 of Werenski's shots; Werenski blocked 3 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
9:26 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–15
- 44.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 33.8%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Werenski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-10 | COL 4–0 CBJ | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-16 | COL 4–1 CBJ | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-03 | COL 7–3 CBJ | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-20 | NYI 3–1 CBJ | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-30 | NYI 0–2 CBJ | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-04 | NYI 4–2 CBJ | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-07 | NYI 7–3 CBJ | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-10-28 | NYI 2–0 CBJ | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-10 | NYI 6–0 CBJ | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-10-21 | NYI 2–3 CBJ | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-12-23 | NYI 2–3 CBJ | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-11-30 | NYI 2–0 CBJ | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 21 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)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 pts
Zach Werenski
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUF
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA2.5 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Zach Werenski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Werenski projects to 2.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brock Nelson's 2.23. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Werenski had 81 in 75 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 Zach Werenski?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Nelson and Werenski done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 14–7. Nelson had 7 points (5 goals) and Werenski had 11 (2 goals).
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 →