Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Noah Dobson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Dobson's 2.17.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Dobson had 47 in 80 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left; Dobson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Dobson's 1.6.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: High-danger chances 51.3%, Sequence xG 54.3%, Expected goals 54.4%.
Dobson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 −0.03, Goals above expected +1.4, Forecheck xG /60 0.38.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Noah Dobson
2.17
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Dobson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.28 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 1.16 |
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: Rantanen vs Dobson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rantanen 2G 9A, 36 SOG · Dobson 1G 5A, 27 SOG
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
11:06 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–7
- 69.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.2
- 82.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Dobson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-04 | DAL 3–4 MTL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-13 | DAL 7–0 MTL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-14 | COL 2–6 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-02 | COL 5–4 NYI | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-24 | COL 7–4 NYI | 1G 3A 5S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2022-12-19 | COL 1–0 NYI | 0G 0A 10S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-10-29 | COL 4–5 NYI | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2022-03-07 | COL 5–4 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2022-03-01 | COL 5–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2020-01-06 | COL 0–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 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.
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Noah Dobson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mikko Rantanen or Noah Dobson 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 Noah Dobson's 2.17. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Dobson had 47 in 80 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, Mikko Rantanen or Noah Dobson?
- 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 Rantanen and Dobson done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 6–4. Rantanen had 11 points (2 goals) and Dobson had 6 (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 →