Who to start · 2025-26
Rickard Rakell vs Zach Werenski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Werenski projects to 2.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.09.
Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Werenski had 81 in 75 games.
This week Rakell has no games left; Werenski has no games left.
Zach Werenski has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rakell's biggest edges: Hits 71, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Blocked shots 43.
Werenski's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.01, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.055, Sequence xG 54.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rickard Rakell
2.09
fantasy points per game
Zach Werenski
2.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Zach Werenski has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rakell | Werenski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.71 | 0.52 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.33 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.73 |
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: Rakell vs Werenski
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.
Rakell 8G 5A, 54 SOG · Werenski 6G 9A, 51 SOG
Rakell blocked 1 of Werenski's shots; Werenski blocked 3 of Rakell's.
On the ice against each other (Rakell's side)
15:56 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Rakell's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–23
- 42.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–1.4
- 46.6%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rakell | Werenski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-17 | PIT 3–4 CBJ | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-04 | PIT 5–4 CBJ | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-25 | PIT 4–5 CBJ | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-21 | PIT 6–3 CBJ | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2025-01-07 | PIT 3–4 CBJ | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-15 | PIT 2–6 CBJ | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-30 | PIT 3–4 CBJ | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-28 | PIT 3–2 CBJ | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-05 | PIT 5–3 CBJ | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-14 | PIT 5–3 CBJ | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-22 | PIT 6–3 CBJ | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-03-22 | PIT 5–1 CBJ | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Rickard Rakell
2games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Zach Werenski
2games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 14th-most FP to DLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTAOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Sebastian Cossa (.944)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rickard Rakell or Zach Werenski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Werenski projects to 2.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rickard Rakell's 2.09. Rakell had 48 points in 60 games; Werenski had 81 in 75 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, Rickard Rakell or Zach Werenski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Zach Werenski leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rakell and Werenski done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Rakell's team went 11–6. Rakell had 13 points (8 goals) and Werenski had 15 (6 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 →