Should You Draft Zion in NBA Fantasy Basketball

Why I’m Betting on Zion Williamson This Season

Oct 17, 2025

If I had to win my fantasy basketball league all over again, there’s one name I’d circle on my draft board every single time: Zion Williamson. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking…“Robbin, that’s a risky pick.” And you’re right. But this year feels different. I’ve been covering fantasy hoops for years, and sometimes numbers tell one story while your gut tells another. What we’ve seen from Zion over the past few seasons has been a mix of brilliance and heartbreak, but if you’re willing to gamble on upside, he’s the kind of player who can turn your team from good to championship‑caliber.

I remember pulling up his Hashtag Basketball profile while prepping this breakdown, and my reaction was immediate: when Zion plays, he absolutely cooks. Back in 2021, he gave us a 61‑game sample averaging 27 points, seven boards, and nearly 60 percent from the field, a stat line that would make any category manager smile. Then came the roller‑coaster years. Twenty‑nine games here, seventy games there, then back down to thirty. Every offseason, we wondered which Zion would show up: the transformative physical force who bends defenses, or the one rehabbing another nagging injury.

But here’s why I’m back in. In 2025, it finally feels like the table has been reset. The contract incentives are real; he actually has to maintain his conditioning and stay on the court. No Dejounte Murray. No Brandon Ingram. The offense is his. Every possession runs through him. And when I overlay the advanced data, the optimism makes sense. His Darko rating (which measures projected impact) has bounced between +1.6 and +2.1 over the past few seasons; that’s All‑Star‑caliber territory. When he’s active, the Pelicans are a different team, and your fantasy lineup is too.

Now, let’s talk draft positioning. In Yahoo leagues, he’s sitting around 45.9 ADP. ESPN has him closer to 33.8, and Fantrax splits the difference at 42.7. In other words, you can snag him in the fourth round, maybe even later if your league hesitates. That’s insane value considering the top‑20 upside. If I see him on the board in Round 3, I don’t hesitate. He’s mine.

Do I have concerns? Of course. Durability, health, focus, it’s all part of the package. I’ve been a Zion manager long enough to know how it feels watching him fill your IR slot for months. But then I remember why we drafted him. When he plays, he dominates. It’s that simple.

Here’s how I break it down:

Pros — elite field‑goal percentage, clear usage boost, contract motivation, unmatched athletic ceiling.
Cons — injuries, conditioning, dedication.
Four pros, three cons—and I’m drafting him.

This season, I believe Zion gets it right. He’s moving with purpose again, slimmer, sharper, and out to prove a point. Whether you play category or points leagues, you owe it to your roster to take that swing. Because while the floor might be fragile, the ceiling is sky‑high.

Join our community at bleavinfantasy.com, subscribe to Bleav in Fantasy Basketball, and ride with me through every stat line and highlight. If Zion finally stays healthy, this is the season to bleav.