Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Drake Batherson
In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Batherson had 71 in 79 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Batherson has 1 left. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Batherson's 1.7.
Drake Batherson has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Blocked shots 71, On-ice PDO 1019, Top skating speed 22.8.
Batherson's biggest edges: Expected goals 56.5%, Sequence xG 56.7%, Scoring chances 56.3%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Drake Batherson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Batherson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.84 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.48 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.14 |
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: Rust vs Batherson
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.
Rust 0G 7A, 41 SOG · Batherson 11G 8A, 36 SOG
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
2:55 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–5
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.7
- 20.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Batherson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | PIT 4–3 OTT | 0G 1A 4S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-18 | PIT 0–4 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-03-30 | PIT 1–0 OTT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-11 | PIT 0–5 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-14 | PIT 2–3 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-12 | PIT 1–2 OTT | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-28 | PIT 2–5 OTT | 0G 1A 7S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-20 | PIT 1–2 OTT | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-20 | PIT 4–1 OTT | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-18 | PIT 4–5 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-01-20 | PIT 6–4 OTT | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2021-11-13 | PIT 3–6 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 2A 6S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Drake Batherson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Drake Batherson in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Batherson had 71 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, Bryan Rust or Drake Batherson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Drake Batherson leads in 23 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rust and Batherson done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 4–10. Rust had 7 points (0 goals) and Batherson had 19 (11 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 →