Who to start · 2025-26
Josh Manson vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Manson's 1.48.
Manson had 31 points in 79 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Manson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Manson's 1.1.
Will Smith has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Manson's biggest edges: Hits 174, High-danger chances 57.4%, Penalty minutes 91.
Smith's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 68.9%, Goals above expected +2.0, Power-play time per game 3:14.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Josh Manson
1.48
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Will Smith has the edge.
| Points per game from | Manson | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.12 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.62 | 0.08 |
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 Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Manson 2G 2A, 12 SOG · Smith 0G 1A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Manson's side)
12:34 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Manson's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–9
- 69.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 55.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Manson | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-04 | COL 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-26 | COL 6–0 SJS | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-01 | COL 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-06 | COL 7–3 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-20 | COL 4–1 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
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 +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Josh Manson or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Manson's 1.48. Manson had 31 points in 79 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Will Smith 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 Smith done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Manson's team went 4–1. Manson had 4 points (2 goals) and Smith 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 →