Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Caufield vs Jake Sanderson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Sanderson projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Caufield's 2.29.
Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Sanderson had 54 in 67 games.
This week Caufield has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Sanderson has 1 left. We project Sanderson for 1.7 ESPN points to Caufield's 1.6.
Cole Caufield has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Caufield's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1042, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Offensive-zone start % 62.5%.
Sanderson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Blocked shots 128, High-danger chances 55.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Caufield
2.40
fantasy points per game
Jake Sanderson
2.40
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cole Caufield has the edge.
| Points per game from | Caufield | Sanderson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.26 | 0.42 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.60 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.96 |
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: Caufield vs Sanderson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Caufield 9G 6A, 36 SOG · Sanderson 4G 8A, 30 SOG
Caufield blocked 1 of Sanderson's shots; Sanderson blocked 5 of Caufield's.
On the ice against each other (Caufield's side)
23:45 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Caufield's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–25
- 44.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–1.6
- 29.1%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Caufield | Sanderson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-17 | MTL 6–5 OTT | 2G 1A 3S | 1G 3A 3S |
| 2025-12-02 | MTL 2–5 OTT | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-01 | MTL 4–3 OTT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-11 | MTL 2–5 OTT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-03-18 | MTL 6–3 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-22 | MTL 5–2 OTT | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-10-12 | MTL 4–1 OTT | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-13 | MTL 4–5 OTT | 2G 0A 6S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2024-01-23 | MTL 1–4 OTT | 0G 1A 6S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-18 | MTL 2–6 OTT | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-14 | MTL 2–3 OTT | 0G 0A 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.
Cole Caufield
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 16th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to RWvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Jake Sanderson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cole Caufield or Jake Sanderson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Sanderson projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Caufield's 2.29. Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Sanderson had 54 in 67 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, Cole Caufield or Jake Sanderson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cole Caufield leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Caufield and Sanderson done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Caufield's team went 5–6. Caufield had 15 points (9 goals) and Sanderson had 12 (4 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 →