Ziaire Williams

Williams claimed more minutes than expected as a rookie, with Dillon Brooks appearing in just 32 games. Brandon Clarke (64 games) also missed his fair share of the fun, opening up time at forward. That allowed Williams to start 31 of his 62 appearances. Over his 21.7 minutes per game in those outings, he averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Williams was moderately efficient, slashing 45/31/78, with 56 percent of his shots coming from three (and 29 percent from the corners). However, he didn't create much for himself, as 88 percent of his made baskets were assisted. This season, Williams should hold an opportunity to handle both similar minutes and usage. Jaren Jackson underwent foot surgery in the offseason and could miss nearly half the season. That figures to leave time open at forward for Williams, and Kyle Anderson signing with the Wolves should also funnel minutes his way. That said, it could be difficult for Williams to work his way into fantasy relevance for standard leagues. The Stanford product ranked 322nd in per-game fantasy value last season. Even with development, cracking the top 150, let alone the top 100, will be a challenge. As a result, he's better suited as a flier in deep leagues or dynasty/keeper formats.

After one up-and-down season at Stanford, many were unsure where Williams would wind up in the 2021 NBA Draft. But the Grizzlies liked what they saw from the 19-year-old, who they made the 10th overall selection. A highly regarded prospect out of high school, Williams has a reputation as a talented scorer with excellent size and athleticism. His efficiency numbers at Stanford were concerning (37.4% FG; 29.1% 3PT), but there's no question that the 19-year-old has plenty of potential. At this stage, however, Williams is much more attractive as a long-term asset in dynasty formats. He'll get some opportunities to contribute for the Grizzlies, but he's unlikely to find enough minutes to warrant rostering in standard redraft leagues.