Derik

Queen

Zion popped up on the injury report Tuesday afternoon after not initially being included on it. He had previously been dealing with a hamstring injury, but now it’s the right adductor that will keep him sidelined until at least Dec. 23. Saddiq Bey and Derik Queen should continue to be the main beneficiaries with Zion unavailable for at least a few weeks. Queen should be locked in as a starter for the rest of the season, while Bey should continue to start with Zion out. Bey has averaged 19.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.6 triples over the last five games and is available in 66 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Williamson was off the injury report on Monday evening for his hamstring, but the adductor issue is a new one, suggesting he may sit this one out. Missi is also a late addition to the injury report, and if both he and Zion are forced to sit this one out, Derik Queen and Saddiq Bey should see even higher usage. Micah Peavey and Kevon Looney could soak up some additional minutes off the bench.

As was the case in Monday’s win over the Bulls, Yves Missi (6/6/3/0/3) played more minutes than Queen. However, the split was closer to even, with Missi logging 29 minutes and Queen 24. The rookie did record nine assists, two shy of his season high, and his ability to facilitate offense should raise Queen’s fantasy ceiling in time. He has provided seventh-round value over two weeks, so losing playing to Missi has not done too much harm to Queen’s value.

While the Pelicans scored 74 points in the first half, that did not keep interim head coach James Borrego from making a few lineup changes. Missi and Jose Alvarado were inserted into the lineup, with rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen (8/5/4/1/1 in 17 minutes) being bumped to the bench. Missi had his best game of the season, recording a double-double with season-highs in points and rebounds. Add in the blocked shots, and Monday’s effort was a step in the right direction for the second-year center. As long as Queen remains the starter, there isn’t much to gain from rostering Missi right now. But keep an eye on him, as his value may expand during the “silly season.”

The Pelicans came out lifeless on the second night of a back-to-back, starting three rookies for the first time this season with Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Herb Jones (back) sidelined, and quickly fell behind by 10 at halftime. Queen was one of the lone bright spots, eclipsing the 20-point mark for the third straight game. New Orleans has dropped nine straight games and sits at a brutal 2–15 on the season. They’ll open a four-game week on Monday against the Bulls before matchups with the Grizzlies, Warriors and Lakers.

Queen is showing exactly why the Pelicans paid a king’s ransom to jump back into the first round for him, averaging 17 points, 7.8 rebounds, six assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks over his last four games — delivering fourth-round value for fantasy managers during that stretch. The 20-year-old lottery pick has stepped into a significant role for New Orleans and has topped 20 points in three of his last six outings. He delivered the first double-double of his career in this one, and an unconventional one at that, handing out 11 assists from his frontcourt spot. He’s not going to morph into a fantasy superstar overnight, but the trajectory is unmistakable — his arrow is pointing straight up.

Queen continued to start even with Zion Williamson back in the starting lineup. The 20-year-old center is showing the highs and lows of being a rookie lately as over his last five games he’s had at least 26 points twice and less than 10 points three times. Queen figures to continue to start under interim coach James Borrego, but his play still remains inconsistent.

Williamson is back after an eight-game absence, and he’s part of the Pelicans’ starting lineup. Yves Missi will come off the bench, with Queen remaining in the starting five. That’s good news for fantasy managers who have hoped to see the rookie playing starters’ minutes consistently.

The Pelicans remain without Zion Williamson, and Saddiq Bey is also unavailable for Monday’s game. As a result, Missi returns to the starting lineup and will play alongside Queen, who shifts to the four. The move makes sense, as the Pelicans have to account for Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. The lineup change gives Missi some value in deep leagues, but he is not a must-stream player.

Queen made his first NBA start on Sunday, replacing Kevon Looney (DNP-CD) in the lineup. The rookie may have only committed one turnover, but he struggled with the Warriors’ defenders, most especially Draymond Green. Queen recorded solid rebound, assist and blocked shot numbers, but many fantasy managers were hoping for more scoring. He’ll look to bounce back on Monday when the Thunder visit in what will be another challenging matchup for Queen and the Pelicans.