CJ

McCollum

Jalen Johnson (ankle) will miss a second straight game, so Dort remains in the starting lineup. The other change is big: Flemings has replaced CJ McCollum. The change boosts the rookie’s fantasy value, especially if head coach Quin Snyder sticks with it moving forward.

McCollum’s shot wasn’t falling in this game, but he was able to initiate offense as a playmaker, which led to a new season high for assists. He came close to recording a triple-double, but McCollum was still able to have a fantastic outing, despite the rough shooting night. With Jalen Johnson (ankle) out, McCollum stepped up as a playmaker, though that trend likely won’t continue when Johnson and Kingston Flemings, who was serving a one-game suspension, return to the rotation.

Playing in New Orleans for the first time since he was traded to Washington in the summer of 2025, McCollum had a relatively quiet Saturday night. The field-goal percentage was good, but CJ’s overall stat line was a bit lean. The Hawks lost Jalen Johnson to a sprained ankle in the second half, and McCollum may be needed to produce more offensively if the star forward misses time. Atlanta plays four games next week, starting with Indiana on Monday.

McCollum has been a solid source of offense for the Hawks since they traded for him last season. So far this year, his production has been underwhelming, but this ended up being his best scoring performance of the season. He has been efficient as a scorer, but the lack of volume has prevented him from making much of an impact for fantasy managers. Still, as a starter, he’ll continue to produce standard-league value.

McCollum has been a solid scorer for Atlanta so far this season, though he hasn’t contributed much value in other categories. 14 of his 17 points in this game came in the second half, but that wasn’t enough for them to get the win. McCollum should provide more assists than he has to this point, but in category leagues, the buckets are the only thing he’ll provide consistently.

After sitting out Atlanta’s preseason opener, McCollum played on Thursday, and his insertion into the lineup pushed Kingston Flemings (15/3/5/3, with two three-pointers) to the bench. McCollum’s move to the starting lineup was a major reason the Hawks finished the 2025-26 regular season with a flourish, and he’ll have a similar role this season. While his fantasy ceiling is somewhat limited, McCollum’s floor should be safe.

Four of Atlanta’s five projected starters are available for Monday’s preseason opener, except CJ McCollum. His absence opens up a spot for Flemings, the eighth overall pick in June’s draft. The role may not align with what awaits Flemings once the regular season begins, but starting immediately is a positive sign, even if it’s as a fill-in for McCollum.

McCollum was eligible for a contract extension until June 30, and Sunday’s report means that he won’t hit free agency at the end of the month. Also, the new deal includes a trade kicker. After being acquired from the Wizards as part of the Trae Young trade, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 18.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.3 three-pointers with the Hawks. And his play was a big reason why the Hawks were able to hand the Knicks two of their three losses on the way to New York’s first NBA title since 1973. As a starter, McCollum can offer solid value to fantasy managers, regardless of league format.

Game 6 was tough for basically every Hawks player who saw meaningful minutes. McCollum, who played 24 minutes, shot inefficiently and also failed to make an impact as a passer. After a fast start to the series, he totaled only 34 points and four assists over the final three games, which were all loses. He’ll enter the offseason as a free agent. Should the veteran return to the Hawks next season, he’ll likely have some fantasy value.

While McCollum once again led the Hawks in scoring, the Knicks did a much better job of defending him in Game 4. The veteran guard missed all four of his three-point attempts, and the Hawks were 10-of-41 as a team. And with the Knicks playing far better than they did in Game 3, this was the recipe for a 16-point New York victory. McCollum and the Hawks will look to regain home-court advantage with a win on Tuesday in New York.