It’s the final weekend before the NBA regular season begins, which means you’re coming here for your fantasy basketball drafts.
Should you draft Zion Williamson this season? Here’s the latest outlook, projections, and rankings for the NO Power Forward.
Should You Draft Zion Williamson in Fantasy Basketball?
Despite slimming down over the summer, Zion Williamson remains one of fantasy basketball’s highest-risk stars, having missed more games (258) than he’s played (214) since being selected No. 1 in the 2019 NBA Draft. Last season marked the explosive forward’s fourth campaign with 30 or fewer appearances as he battled with hamstring and back ailments on an injury-riddled Pelicans squad.
When available, Williamson remains a prolific, efficient scorer (24.6 ppg on 56.7% shooting from the field last season) and a solid rebounder (7.2 rpg) and playmaker (5.3 apg) for his position. Still, his virtually non-existent 3-point shot (0.1 3pg), subpar free-throw percentage (65.6%), and high turnover count (3.0 tpg) limit his value in category leagues, making him better suited for points formats.
New Orleans could have more incentive to play Williamson as much as possible in the 2025-26 campaign after relinquishing control of its 2026 first-round pick during the offseason. However, given the two-time All-Star’s durability concerns and gaps in his statistical profile, savvy fantasy managers may avoid drafting him in the top 50.
Looking for more fantasy basketball outlooks? Head over to our NBA landing page for analysis on 200 players.
What Are Zion Williamson’s Fantasy Basketball Projections This Season?
Based on our proprietary metrics here at PFSN, we project Williamson to score 2,854.3 fantasy points this season, with him averaging 23.7 points per game.
This includes 9.3 field goals per game, 0.1 three-pointers per game, 5.1 free throws per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 5.5 assists per game, 1.0 steals per game, and 0.7 blocks per game.
Where Does Zion Williamson Rank in the Upcoming Fantasy Basketball Season?
Williamson is ranked 31st overall and ninth at his position. The five players ranked ahead of him overall include Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, Miles Bridges, De’Aaron Fox, and Evan Mobley.
The five players ranked behind him overall include Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler III, Jalen Williams, Nikola Vučević, and Derrick White.
The five players ranked ahead of him at his position include Pascal Siakam, Victor Wembanyama, Jaren Jackson Jr., Randle, and Mobley.
The five players ranked behind him at his position include Durant, Alexandre Sarr, Cooper Flagg, Jalen Johnson, and Aaron Gordon.
