Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Jake DeBrusk
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jake DeBrusk's 1.42.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; DeBrusk had 42 in 81 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; DeBrusk has 2 left. We project DeBrusk for 2.7 ESPN points to Rust's 2.2.
Bryan Rust has the better number in 25 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Luck Meter +32, Goals above expected +1.5, On-ice PDO 1019.
DeBrusk's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.79, Hits 66, Faceoffs won 14.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Jake DeBrusk
1.51
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | DeBrusk |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.23 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.21 |
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 DeBrusk
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.
Rust 10G 5A, 67 SOG · DeBrusk 7G 5A, 58 SOG
Rust blocked 2 of DeBrusk's shots; DeBrusk blocked 0 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
9:06 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–5
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.3
- 70.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | DeBrusk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | PIT 3–2 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-21 | PIT 5–1 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-27 | PIT 5–4 VAN | 2G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-26 | PIT 3–4 VAN | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-13 | PIT 4–6 BOS | 1G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-04 | PIT 6–5 BOS | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-01 | PIT 3–4 BOS | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-02 | PIT 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-01 | PIT 5–6 BOS | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-04-21 | PIT 4–0 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-04-16 | PIT 1–2 BOS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-02-08 | PIT 4–2 BOS | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 22 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)
Jake DeBrusk
4games (2 left)
2.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 3rd-most FP to LWLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 3rd-most FP to LWLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY1.4 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −4.0 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.3 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Jake DeBrusk in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jake DeBrusk's 1.42. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; DeBrusk had 42 in 81 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 Jake DeBrusk?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bryan Rust leads in 25 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 DeBrusk done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 9–13. Rust had 15 points (10 goals) and DeBrusk had 12 (7 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 →