Zion Williamson Fantasy Risk vs Reward Breakdown

Fantasy Fallout for Pelicans

Team Performance without Zion

Ball don’t lie, and neither do the numbers. New Orleans already owns one of the worst record in the league this season, sitting at 10-33 as of Jan 15. What’s worse, is that they are 3-13 when Williamson doesn’t play. This team is already in a bad position, but they’ll really be cooked if Zion misses time with yet another lower-body injury.

Category Impacts

Williamson’s teammates aren’t the only ones getting dinged when he can’t play. A big man like Zion Williamson can have a lot of upside in fantasy Roto leagues, where he adds value in Points, Rebounds, Assists, and Field Goal % but isn’t as strong in defensive categories. He can’t have a lasting impact in those categories, however, if he’s consistently coming out of the Pelicans lineup due to injuries or playing off the bench because he’s rehabbing.

Lasting Fantasy Impact

Like we said: High reward, but also high risk. Having Williamson on your fantasy roster means rolling the dice on his health and availability. His injury history makes his seasons so uncertain that managers may choose to hit the waiver wire and play someone more reliable.

Top Waiver Wire Replacements

Derik Queen (Rookie Boost)

Williamson’s lack of availability has put focus on some of his teammates as fantasy roster replacements. Queen has garnered more attention since the Maryland product has, as my colleage Sam Amico wrote, quietly had a productive rookie season in fantasy. He is a solid rebounder with a few double-doubles on his stat sheet for January, plus the Pelicans have been giving him more playing time as they navigate their nightmare of a season. Solid play and more minutes makes him a good candidate for Roto leagues.

Jeremiah Fears (Playmaking Rise)

Fellow rookie Fears has also shown he can be an impact fantasy player, showing he can score, assist, and steal, plus hit shots from beyond the arc. The downside to the rookie guard is that he’s inconsistent from field goal range and can run into turnover trouble. His upside, however, makes him a fantasy streamer candidate.

Trey Murphy III

Injuries on the Pelicans roster, even ones outside of Zion, have resulted in more playing time for Murphy. The seasoned forward excels across both offensive and defensive fantasy categories and has even led the Pelicans in points in games in January. One dent in Murphy’s fantasy stock has been playing time when the roster is healthy, although he’s averaging over 35 minutes per game this season. He’s a player to keep in mind when you hit the fantasy waiver wire, especially if Williamson gets hurt again.

Trade Targets and Strategy

If Stashing Zion ...

The Pelicans are reportedly holding on to Williamson through the NBA trade deadline, but will fantasy owners do the same? He has played well in January, including a Jan. 14 performance where he posted 25 points with six rebounds and two blocks, and shot a whopping 78.6% from the field in a 116-113 win against the Brooklyn Nets. He’s showing he can still offer fantasy upside in an otherwise lost season for New Orleans, but of course, that means he has to stay off the injury report.

If Selling Zion …

… then you should sell now while he’s playing well. Williamson is such a boom-or-bust fantasy asset that your only chance of selling him is to sell high when he’s coming off a game like he played against Brooklyn. Keep his strong categories in mind when you look for a player who can make up for that production on a more consistent basis.

Summary: Long-Term Outlook

Zion Williamson’s fantasy impact is a portrait in black and white: He’s a top-tier fantasy asset when he’s healthy, and an owner’s nightmare when he’s indefinitely sidelined with yet another injury. Managers who are impressed with Williamson’s fantasy output can still play him, although it’s at their own risk since he has already missed a significant amount of games this season. Keep some of his younger and healthier teammates like Queen and Murphy in mind if you’re hitting the waiver wire, as they offer less risk than Zion does.

People Also Ask

Is Zion Williamson worth keeping in fantasy basketball?
Yes, if you can handle risk. He produces elite efficiency and scoring but carries a constant injury threat.

Should I trade Zion Williamson while he’s healthy?
If you want stability, yes. His value peaks when he strings together healthy games like he has in January.

Who benefits most when Zion Williamson is out?
Trey Murphy III and Derik Queen see increased usage and minutes, making them strong fantasy replacements.

What fantasy categories does Zion help the most?
Points, field goal percentage, rebounds, and assists for a forward. Defensive stats are less reliable.