2026-27 Hawks Fantasy Preview
On the surface, the Hawks looked like they were just running it back, keeping their starting five intact this offseason. The Hawks added depth, bolstering defense and 3-point shooting. That’s not a bad thing, as it produces stability in fantasy basketball.
Jalen Johnson, SF/PF
📊 Trend: ⬆️
🗝️ Key Stats: PTS, REB, AST, FG%
⚠️ Risk: 🟢 Low
🔓 Value Unlock: Curb turnovers, improve FT%
💡 Quick Hits: After a couple of injury-riddled seasons, Johnson finally stayed healthy last season. He also took a step in the right direction, thriving as the Hawks’ offensive hub.
❓ Big Question(s): Is Jalen Johnson’s breakout sustainable? Does he have another level to his game that remains untapped? Can he make another leap without sacrificing efficiency?
🎯 Draft Range: 10-14
⭐ Fantasy Take: Johnson has set a reliable floor in fantasy, and that’s where you should be looking. While he can take another step this season, inconsistent FT% and high turnovers curb his appeal in 9-cat. Those won’t just disappear magically, so he will need meaningful growth in his counting stats, which can happen. Don’t reach for him too aggressively. FOMO is a dangerous beast.
Onyeka Okongwu, C
📊 Trend: ⬆️
🗝️ Key Stats: REB, AST, STL, 3PM, FG%, TO
⚠️ Risk: 🟢 Low
🔓 Value Unlock: Rebound more, hit 2.0 threes per game while retaining FG% efficiency
💡 Quick Hits: Okongwu was finally unleashed last season and he rewarded managers with an impressive well-rounded stat line. He ended up becoming one of the best 3-point shooting centers in the league.
❓ Big Question(s): What’s does the next iteration of Okongwu’s evolution look like? Can he be a truly elite stretch five this season?
🎯 Draft Range: 40-50
⭐ Fantasy Take: I have a feeling that we haven’t seen the best version of Okongwu yet. He will struggle on the defensive end sometimes because he’s undersized for a center, but offensively, his drastically improved 3-point shooting should unlock a whole new level of goodness in the fantasy game.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, PG/SG
📊 Trend: ⬆️
🗝️ Key Stats: PTS, STL, 3PM, FT%
⚠️ Risk: 🟢 Low
🔓 Value Unlock: Add a playmaking dimension to his game
💡 Quick Hits: NAW won the Most Improved Player award by a landslide last season thanks to across the board improvement since moving to Atlanta. He transitioned from defensive stopper to a full two-way threat.
❓ Big Question(s): Was Alexander-Walker’s big breakout a one-time explosion or was what we saw from him the “new normal?”
🎯 Draft Range: 45-55
⭐ Fantasy Take: NAW is the type of player who can slide in drafts due to his lack of assists. But if you think about it, that’s the only missing dimension in his game. He checks virtually every other box.
Dyson Daniels, SG/SF
📊 Trend: ⬇️
🗝️ Key Stats: REB, AST, STL, FG%
⚠️ Risk: 🟢 Low
🔓 Value Unlock: Rediscover his playmaking while adding more volume from deep.
💡 Quick Hits: Daniels took a hit last season as he wound up being the fifth scoring option, resulting in a drop in his points and 3s. The still-solid steals rate was not enough to offset his offensive regression.
❓ Big Question(s): Daniels needs to find how he best fits into the Hawks’ system while still being productive in fantasy. The question is “How?”
🎯 Draft Range: 55-65
⭐ Fantasy Take: Daniels’ rebounding saw a nice uptick towards the end of the season. So if he can somehow round out his nightly stat line with a bit more 3-point shooting, then he can still be a force in fantasy — beyond his elite steals.
CJ McCollum, PG/SG
📊 Trend: ↔️to ⬇️
🗝️ Key Stats: PTS, 3PM, TO
⚠️ Risk: 🟢 Low
🔓 Value Unlock: Find a shooting resurgence
💡 Quick Hits: The decline in McCollum’s game became more pronounced last season as the 3s and scoring volume dipped. The emergence of Nickeil Alexander-Walker also stole some of McCollum’s thunder.
❓ Big Question(s): Is another significant slide in production incoming this season?
🎯 Draft Range: 130-140
⭐ Fantasy Take: McCollum is more of a veteran presence on the Hawks than he is an impact player. Relative to his ADP, he’s a source of still-decent points and 3s. Just don’t expect much more than that from the fading veteran.
👀 Players to Watch: Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort, Kingston Flemings, Jock Landale
