Kingston Flemings is the rookie guard fantasy managers can grab cheap now and thank themselves for in February. The Hawks took him No. 8 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23 after one standout season at Houston.
As a freshman, Flemings averaged 16.1 points, 5.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 31.7 minutes. He shot 47.6% from the field, 38.7% from three and 84.5% at the line. He earned consensus second-team All-American honors, the first freshman in Houston history to do it, and dropped a program freshman-record 42 points on Texas Tech in January (Wikipedia, CBS Atlanta).
Why he's a fantasy sleeper
We took Flemings as a flyer in the early-middle rounds, and we'd do it again. Rookie guards rarely cost much on draft day, and the market is pricing him as a bench piece in year one. That discount is the opportunity.
The production already shows up in the categories that win leagues:
• Assists: 9 dimes in his Summer League debut, plus 7 in a preseason win over Oklahoma City (NBC Sports, CBS Sports).
• Steals: 1.5 per game at Houston and 4 in his Summer League debut. Steals are scarce, and he gets them.
• Free throws: 84.5% at Houston, a quiet boost for a guard who attacks the rim.
• Trust from the coach: Two preseason starts, and Quin Snyder praised his feel for "when to shoot, when to pass" (Yahoo Sports).
The risk is real: his shot was streaky in exhibition play (4-of-16 in his Summer League debut, 3-of-11 against OKC). But the floor is a steals-and-assists contributor, and the ceiling is a top-100 guard by the second half if minutes open up.
Marcus Smart is the comp. We think he can be more.
Flemings has been compared to Marcus Smart as a ceiling, and the defensive half of that fits. He is quick, physical on the ball and plays passing lanes. Snyder singled out his "better presence on the ball" in camp.
Where we break from the comp is scoring. Smart built a Defensive Player of the Year career while rarely being a primary scorer. Flemings arrived as one: he led Houston in points as a freshman, hit nearly 39% from deep, and erupted for 42 in a single game. A guard who can shoot like that and get to the line at 84.5% has a path to 18-20 points a night once he owns a bigger role.
Our take: Smart's defense is a fair target. The scoring is what could push his fantasy ceiling past Smart's.
The battle for minutes
Playing time is the one thing standing between Flemings and fantasy relevance. Atlanta's backcourt is crowded with proven veterans, and RotoWire projects him as the third or fourth guard option to start the year (CBS Sports).
• CJ McCollum: Veteran shot-maker who shot well in preseason. A big threat to Flemings' minutes now, though rest nights and workload management could open the door.
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker: Two-way wing who posted 13- and 17-point first halves in preseason. Locked into the top of the rotation.
• Dyson Daniels: Elite perimeter defender who led the NBA in steals in 2024-25. His defensive profile overlaps most with Flemings'.
The path is there, though. Flemings already started twice in preseason, once with McCollum resting and once next to Alexander-Walker. Any injury, rest night or trade-deadline move pushes him into 28-30 minutes, and that's when the sleeper becomes a starter in your lineup (Yahoo Sports).
Why collectors should pay attention
The same case that makes Flemings a fantasy sleeper makes him worth collecting. A top-10 pick on a playoff team, priced as a role player, is exactly the kind of name that moves when the minutes arrive.
What's available today:
• 2025-26 Panini autographs (NIL, non-licensed): Signed cards from his Houston season. These carry no NBA or college logos, so they trade at a discount to licensed rookies. That makes them an affordable early entry point.
• 2026-27 NBA Topps Now: Licensed, print-to-order cards tied to specific moments. Topps Now print runs are set by a short ordering window, so early moments in a player's career can become scarce.
His true rookie cards in licensed NBA products are still to come. Our approach: pick up the NIL autos and Topps Now cards while the price is low, then target his flagship rookies once they release. If he breaks out the way we think he can, the early buyers win.
The bottom line
Flemings is a calculated bet: a No. 8 pick with real scoring and steals upside, sitting behind three veterans. Draft or stash him in the early-middle rounds, be patient through November, and keep an eye on his cards. The window to buy low on both may not stay open long.
Sources
• Wikipedia: Kingston Flemings
• CBS Atlanta: Hawks select Kingston Flemings at No. 8
• NBC Sports: Flemings dishes out nine dimes in debut
• CBS Sports: Flemings dishes seven dimes in preseason win