ATL 117, PHI 107: Johnson Delivers Huge 54 ESPN FP Night
Destiny Williams
Math Teacher & Basketball Coach ยท Atlanta Hawks fan
Hawks Steal One in Philly, Jalen Johnson Goes Absolutely Nuclear
Look, I'm not supposed to play favorites, but when your team wins on the road in a division rival's building, you get to enjoy it a little bit. Hawks took down the 76ers 117-107 last night, and more importantly for your fantasy lineups, Jalen Johnson turned this game into a personal workout.
Let's start with the numbers that matter:
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Johnson | 54.0 | 59.5 | 32/10/5 | 23.3/10.6/8.2 | +8.7 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 38.0 | 40.1 | 28/3/3 | 28.9/4.1/6.8 | -0.9 |
| CJ McCollum | 44.0 | 39.7 | 23/1/5 | 18.8/3.4/3.6 | +4.2 |
| Andre Drummond | 41.0 | 37.3 | 10/14/3 | 6.9/8.6/0.9 | +3.1 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | 31.0 | 35.1 | 17/3/3 | 13.9/4.7/1.6 | +3.1 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 27.0 | 30.8 | 20/9/0 | 14.9/5.4/4.1 | +5.1 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 27.0 | 28.6 | 14/3/4 | 20.1/3.6/3.7 | -6.1 |
| Adem Bona | 30.0 | 28.4 | 9/7/0 | 4.2/3.9/0.2 | +4.8 |
| Zaccharie Risacher | 31.0 | 27.4 | 10/7/2 | 10.5/3.5/1.3 | -0.5 |
| Dyson Daniels | 26.0 | 27.4 | 15/7/2 | 11.6/6.5/6.2 | +3.4 |
Johnson Just Cooked
Jalen Johnson dropped 59.5 Yahoo fantasy points on a 32/10/5 line and I need everyone to understand what just happened here. That's 8.7 points above his season average, and he did it on 37 minutes by attacking the glass and living at the free throw line. 14-16 from the stripe. That's the move right there, especially against a 76ers team that plays physical. He went 9-22 from the floor but made it hurt where it mattered most.
This is the kind of performance that gets people thinking "buy high," but hold up. This was elite Johnson. His season average sits at 23.3/10.6/8.2, so yeah, he went off. But here's the thing about Johnson that my student-athletes understand when we break down his tape: he's a read-and-react guy. He gets his buckets through effort and positioning, not creation. Against Philly's interior defense without some key pieces, he found space. That's sustainable to a point, but expect some regression back toward that 23-point average.
That said, Johnson owners got exactly what you want from him tonight. Lock him in your lineup.
Maxey Stays Steady, But Misses His Usual Looks
Tyrese Maxey put up 40.1 Yahoo points (28/3/3) and somehow came in at -0.9 versus his season average. That's the thing about Maxey this season, right? He's one of the most consistent scorers in the league, but his peripherals (assists, rebounds) can be erratic. On a night where he's getting his points but not running the offense as much, that +40 can feel smaller than it looks on paper.
He was fine. Not exceptional, but fine. That's Maxey in a 10-point loss where his team couldn't generate rhythm. He scored when he had the chance but didn't dictate the pace. For a late-round pick like Maxey, this is still a win night.
The Drummond and Oubre Show Stole Rebounds
Andre Drummond (37.3 Yahoo FP on 10/14/3) is why you don't sleep on streaming centers. He was +3.1 versus his average and grabbed 14 rebounds in just 27 minutes. That's specific work against the Hawks' bigs, and it tells you Drummond knows how to position himself in a specific matchup.
Kelly Oubre Jr. wasn't flashy (17/3/3 on 4-13 shooting), but he was +3.1 against his season average, which means he played above expectations. Those free throws (9-11) matter more than people think, especially for a role player who's not supposed to create offense.
Both guys did the glue-guy thing that doesn't make ESPN highlights but wins fantasy weeks. Respect it.
The Waiver Wire Move: NAW Gets Added, But Here's the Real Talk
Nickeil Alexander-Walker got added by 1.3% of leagues after going 28.6 Yahoo FP with 14/3/4/3 steals. He's now at 88.5% owned, so he's basically everywhere. But real quick, NAW came in at -6.1 versus his season average. He's a 20-point scorer for Atlanta this season, but last night he only found 14. Don't get seduced by the ownership bump. He's a solid mid-tier option but not a league-winner. If you're in a 12-team league and he's sitting on waivers, sure, grab him as depth. But don't blow FAAB on this dude.
Closing Thoughts: What This Means Going Forward
The Hawks won the game, but from a fantasy perspective, this was about Johnson's breakout night and solid support from role players. CJ McCollum (39.7 Yahoo FP on 23/1/5) was efficient and consistent. Dyson Daniels showed up on defense (3 steals) and ran the offense when needed.
For Philly, this is a loss that hurts, but VJ Edgecombe gave you something interesting off the bench, going +5.1 versus his average. He's worth monitoring if minutes expand, but don't overreact to one good game from a bench player.
Bottom line: If you owned Johnson or McCollum, you had a great night. If you rode Maxey or Drummond, you got exactly what you paid for. And if you're thinking about NAW after the ownership spike, pump the brakes and wait to see if he's consistently getting 30+ minutes.
That's the job.