Collins has had a solid season for Utah as a reserve, but this was by far his best game of the year. It was his first game without a defensive stat after he had exactly one steal and one block in every previous game. However, he set season-highs for points, rebounds and field goal percentage and tied his season-high for dimes. Collins won't have games like this often, but it isn't because he's not capable. The Jazz are prioritizing their youth movement, which could make Collins expendable at the trade deadline. Until then, he'll be a solid option that will occasionally pop off like this.
The good news for Collins managers is that his production has largely been solid. The bad is that, even with Lauri Markkanen (back) sidelined, JC's minutes have held steady. That limits Collins' fantasy ceiling considerably, even with him providing 7th-round per-game value thus far. At a certain point, Utah's priority will be to give Brice Sensabaugh and Kyle Filipowski a more extended look as the team evaluates its direction for the future.
Markkanen will miss a second straight game, which should mean Kyle Filipowski remains in the starting lineup. While the rookie will have some streaming value, he only played 20 minutes as a spot starter in Thursday's loss to the Spurs. In addition to Filipowski, John Collins will also see an increase in playing time.
After leaving Tuesday's loss to the Kings prematurely due to back spasms, Markkanen will sit out Thursday's game against the Spurs. His absence boosts the values of Kyle Filipowski and John Collins, with the former likely moving into the starting lineup. Filipowsk and Cody Williams, who has replaced the injured Taylor Hendricks, are worth streaming on a four-game night.
Collins has been solid in his reserve role despite coming off the bench. He's reached double figures and tallied one steal and one blocked shot in every game, which is why Collins has been a 6th-round player. The 28 minutes he played against the Spurs were a season-high, with Lauri Markkanen's absence being a factor. There was a brief period during the second quarter in which Collins was on the court with Walker Kessler, so that's something to keep an eye on if Markkanen remains sidelined.