Who to start · 2025-26
Josh Manson vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Manson's 1.48.
Manson had 31 points in 79 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Manson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Manson's 1.1.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Manson's biggest edges: Corsi 57.3%, Fenwick 57.4%, Hits 174.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:54, Power-play share 82.8%, Offensive-zone start % 63.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Josh Manson
1.48
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Manson | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.12 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.62 | 0.22 |
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: Manson vs Rantanen
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.
Manson 2G 4A, 38 SOG · Rantanen 12G 16A, 70 SOG
Manson blocked 2 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 3 of Manson's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Manson's side)
10:52 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Manson's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–6
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 50.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Manson | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | COL 2–0 DAL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-11 | COL 4–5 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-05-03 · PO | COL 2–4 DAL | 1G 0A 4S | 3G 1A 4S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | COL 7–4 DAL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 3A 2S |
| 2025-04-28 · PO | COL 2–6 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 6S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | COL 4–0 DAL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-23 · PO | COL 1–2 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-04-21 · PO | COL 3–4 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-19 · PO | COL 5–1 DAL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-01-02 | ANA 2–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 6S |
| 2021-11-24 | ANA 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-04-11 | ANA 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
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.
Josh Manson
2games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Josh Manson or Mikko Rantanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Manson's 1.48. Manson had 31 points in 79 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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, Josh Manson or Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Manson and Rantanen done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Manson's team went 8–14. Manson had 6 points (2 goals) and Rantanen had 28 (12 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 →