Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Jake Sanderson vs Matthew Schaefer

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Sanderson projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Schaefer's 2.02.

Sanderson had 54 points in 67 games; Schaefer had 59 in 82 games.

This week Sanderson has 1 game left; Schaefer has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Schaefer for 2.4 ESPN points to Sanderson's 1.7.

Jake Sanderson has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Sanderson's biggest edges: High-danger chances 55.8%, Expected goals 57.0%, Sequence xG 57.4%.

Schaefer's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 38, On-ice PDO 1010, Hits 40.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Jake Sanderson

2.40

fantasy points per game

Matthew Schaefer

2.11

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Jake Sanderson has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromSandersonSchaefer
Goals (+2)0.420.56
Assists (+1)0.600.44
Power-play points (+0.5)0.160.11
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.220.27
Hits (+0.1)0.040.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.960.68

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: Sanderson vs Schaefer

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

SandersonSchaefer
1Team record in 2 meetings1
1Points in those games1

Sanderson 1G 0A, 2 SOG · Schaefer 0G 1A, 6 SOG

On the ice against each other (Sanderson's side)

10:31 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Sanderson's side

Shot attempts
9–10
47.4%
Expected goals
0.5–0.8
37.6%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Jake Sanderson and Matthew Schaefer
DateScoreSandersonSchaefer
2026-04-11OTT 3–0 NYI1G 0A 2S0G 0A 4S
2025-10-18OTT 4–5 NYI0G 0A 0S0G 1A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

SandersonSchaefer

Fantasy box score

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.

Jake Sanderson

1games

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 pts
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)

Matthew Schaefer

2games (1 left)

2.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD2.4 pts
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to DLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)

FAQ

Should I start Jake Sanderson or Matthew Schaefer 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 Matthew Schaefer's 2.02. Sanderson had 54 points in 67 games; Schaefer had 59 in 82 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, Jake Sanderson or Matthew Schaefer?
On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Sanderson 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 Sanderson and Schaefer done against each other?
In 2 games against each other in our data, Sanderson's team went 1–1. Sanderson had 1 points (1 goals) and Schaefer had 1 (0 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 →