Jalen

Johnson

Johnson is headed to the bench after playing 33 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Lakers. Garrison Mathews started the last game Johnson missed (January 1 at Denver), and he can provide value to deep-league managers needing 3-pointers. However, managers should target De’Andre Hunter first despite his coming off the bench.

Johnson returned to the Hawks lineup Friday after a one-game absence with a shoulder injury. Now the question is if he feels good enough to play Saturday on the second night of a back-to-back, hence the questionable listing. If Johnson can’t go against the Clippers, Garrison Matthews would be back on the streaming radar.

Johnson was back in the Hawks’ starting lineup after sitting out Wednesday’s game against the Nuggets, and he had a good night in Los Angeles. Over the past two weeks, he has provided 1st-round per-game value in 9-cat formats. Garrison Mathews, who filled in for Johnson on Wednesday, was limited to 14 minutes off the bench against the Lakers. Missing all four of his attempts, Mathews went scoreless with one blocked shot. Unless Johnson is held out of Saturday’s game against the Clippers, there’s no reason to roster Mathews.

Johnson will end up missing just one game with the shoulder injury. The Hawks were no match for the Nuggets without Johnson on Wednesday so his return will be a welcome sight for the team as well as fantasy managers. Garrison Matthews is likely headed back to the bench with Johnson available Friday.

Johnson missed their last game against Denver, which allowed Garrison Mathews to slide into a smaller starting unit and for rookie Zaccharie Risacher to play a larger role. If Johnson is out again, the lineup should look the same, though neither beneficiary will be worth streaming.

Johnson popped up on the injury report with a shoulder injury Wednesday, signifying that he was on the wrong side of questionable. Indeed, the 23-year-old power forward will miss Wednesday’s game and it’s a big loss for Atlanta. Dyson Daniels (illness) is back and will have an increased playmaking role. With Johnson and Bogdan Bogdanovic out, De’Andre Hunter should be in line for a huge role, even if he’s not in the starting lineup.

Johnson is a late addition to the Hawks injury report and an important one. The good news for Atlanta is that Dyson Daniels (illness) is on track to return, which would help account for Johnson’s absence if he doesn’t play. De’Andre Hunter would have added importance if Johnson is ruled out, while Vit Krejci might remain in the starting lineup.

Johnson has played well enough this season to merit All-Star consideration, and he flourished on Saturday despite getting into early foul trouble. The Hawks forward put up an efficient 28 points and recorded his 18th double-double of the season (he had 19 the entire 2023-24 campaign). Johnson and the Hawks visit Toronto on Sunday to conclude their Week 9 schedule.

Young has been able to play through their last two games with this heel contusion, but he did miss a game last weekend because of it. If he were to miss this one, Vit Krejci could start in his place, as he did in Trae’s last absence, with Keaton Wallace coming off the bench. However, neither player would be worth streaming, and Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels would likely take on extra playmaking duties.

Johnson had scored at least 20 points in just three of his last eight games, but went off for 30 points against the Bulls’ bottom-third of the league defense Thursday. Johnson continues to excel in the rebounding category as he recored at least 10 rebounds for the seventh time in his last eight games. The 23-year-old power forward broke out last year and has only gotten better as a multidimensional fantasy weapon this year.