Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson 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 Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Sanderson had 54 in 67 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Sanderson has 1 left. We project Sanderson for 1.7 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Jake Sanderson has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1017, Forecheck xG /60 0.32, Penalty minutes 22.
Sanderson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 128, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.050, Sequence xG 57.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.94
fantasy points per game
Jake Sanderson
2.40
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake Sanderson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Sanderson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.40 | 0.42 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.68 | 0.60 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 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: Karlsson 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.
Karlsson 0G 4A, 27 SOG · Sanderson 1G 4A, 20 SOG
Karlsson blocked 3 of Sanderson's shots; Sanderson blocked 0 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
16:20 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–20
- 35.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–2.6
- 20.3%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Sanderson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | PIT 2–3 OTT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-18 | PIT 0–4 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-30 | PIT 1–0 OTT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-11 | PIT 0–5 OTT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-14 | PIT 2–3 OTT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-12 | PIT 1–2 OTT | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-23 | PIT 4–5 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-28 | PIT 2–5 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-03 | SJS 2–5 OTT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-21 | SJS 5–1 OTT | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 6S |
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.
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to D
Jake Sanderson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to D
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson 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 Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 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, Erik Karlsson or Jake Sanderson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Sanderson leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Karlsson and Sanderson done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 2–8. Karlsson had 4 points (0 goals) and Sanderson had 5 (1 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 →