Keegan Murray (ankle) questionable Sunday vs. MEM

The Kings were without Keegan Murray (ankle) for Sunday’s game, so Achiuwa made a spot start. While his foul shooting was a disaster, the positives outweighed that negative in terms of the Kings forward’s production. Achiuwa played 39 minutes against the Grizzlies and recorded a double-double with five “stocks.” Sacramento plays three games in Week 2, starting with the Spurs on Tuesday, and Achiuwa would be a worthwhile pickup if Murray remains out.

Murray was initially questionable for Sunday’s game, but will now be sidelined. Precious Achiuwa will look to benefit and likely start in place of Murray. Fantasy managers should keep an eye ahead of Week 2.

Murray, who was initially questionable for Sunday’s game, is on track to sit after the status downgrade. If he can’t play, Precious Achiuwa may benefit most, as he’s likely to replace Murray in the starting lineup.

Given Darius Acuff Jr.'s struggles on Wednesday, Murray’s night may avoid some scrutiny. However, he also struggled, missing his first seven attempts and not scoring until 9:08 was left in the fourth quarter. And Murray didn’t do much in the other categories either, which is a concern for fantasy managers. He’ll look to bounce back on Friday when the Kings host Portland.

With injuries limiting him to 23 games, Murray’s 2025-26 season was a lost one. He made his first appearance of the preseason on Saturday, logging eight minutes in the first quarter before being shut down. Murray’s return pushed De’Andre Hunter (four points, three rebounds and one assist) to the bench, and that’s likely to be the small-forward rotation once the regular season begins. As long as he’s healthy, Murray can be a valuable fantasy option. Another key for him beyond staying healthy is establishing a connection with rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr.

Hunter, whose 2025-26 season ended in February due to an eye injury that required surgery, was in the starting lineup on Monday. The Kings did not have Keegan Murray, so fantasy managers should not read too much into that. What they should read into when evaluating Hunter is that he did not have an official shot from the field, with his points coming via a three-shot foul. And there was no rebounding or defensive production to speak of. Hunter has rarely offered reliable fantasy value as a pro, making him challenging to trust in drafts.

Murray, who initially injured his left ankle in early January, aggravated the sprain during a February 25 game against the Rockets. That was the last game of the season for the Kings’ forward, who underwent a “minimally invasive” procedure on May 12 to remove loose bodies from the ankle. With the six-to-eight week timeline, Murray being ready for the start of training camp in late September should not be an issue. In addition to health, his fantasy outlook in 2026-27 will depend on whether the Kings can move some of their veterans this offseason.

Murray was cleared to resume contact on March 25, but he’ll end the season with his last game action occurring on February 25. Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden have seen their minutes increase substantially over the final month of the season, and they should play plenty on Sunday.

Murray has not appeared in a game since February 25, when he aggravated his sprained left ankle against the Rockets. Being approved to resume contact activities is a step in the right direction, but it remains unknown when (or if) he’ll return to game action. Fantasy managers stashing Murray in an IL spot can continue to do so, but it would be fine to seek out productive options on the waiver wire.

Murray aggravated his sprained left ankle during a February 25 game against the Rockets and has not played since. With the update provided by the Kings on Friday, he’s unlikely to be an impact option for fantasy managers again this season. Nique Clifford is as close to a must-add as a player can be going into the silly season, and Precious Achiuwa is also worth a long look in 12-team leagues. Daeqwon Plowden has cracked the rotation, but Clifford and Achiuwa should be the priorities of fantasy managers.