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# 2026-27 Pelicans Fantasy Preview
- URL: https://www.9catninja.com/2026-27-pelicans-fantasy-preview/
- Published: 2026-08-15T05:33:44.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-27T07:52:13.000Z
- Author: Erik

*The Pelicans were one of the more quiet teams during the offseason and are looking like they’re stuck in a mediocre holding pattern. They’re at a crossroads and will need to decide how to move forward — hopefully, sooner than later.*

  
Trey Murphy, SG/SF/PF

**📊 Trend:**  ⬆️

**🗝️ Key Stats:** PTS, STL, 3PM, FG%, FT%, TO

**⚠️ Risk:** 🟠 Medium

**🔓 Value Unlock:** Improve playmaking while taking care of the ball

**💡 Quick Hits:** Murphy was solid in fantasy last season thanks to his high-scoring, well-rounded, efficient production. His 66 games were his most played in the last three seasons, but at least it’s a step in the right direction. 

**❓ Big Question(s):** With the Pelicans looking unlikely to be competitive this season, could Murphy be a trade or sit risk?

**🎯 Draft Range:** 15-25

**⭐ Fantasy Take:** Murphy is a proven commodity at this point and is hands down the best player on the Pelicans by a mile. He’s at the cusp of being one of fantasy’s elite, so make sure he doesn’t slip through your fingers.

  
Dejounte Murray, PG/SG

**📊 Trend:** ⬆️

**🗝️ Key Stats:** PTS, AST, STL

**⚠️ Risk:** 🟠 Medium

**🔓 Value Unlock:** Get back to being a 20-point scorer, while staying away from the injury bug

**💡 Quick Hits:** Murray returned last season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. He looked rusty in his 14 games, but there were flashes of his former self.

**❓ Big Question(s):** Can Murray get back to being a dangerous two-way combo guard this season?

**🎯 Draft Range:** 50-60

**⭐ Fantasy Take:** Murray is a bounce-back candidate, but there’s no need to overpay. There should be enough of a discount to go around come draft day.

  
Zion Williamson, SF/PF/C

**📊 Trend:** ⬇️

**🗝️ Key Stats:** PTS, AST, FG%

**⚠️ Risk:** 🟠 ➡️ 🔴 Medium to High

**🔓 Value Unlock:** Considering Zion’s strength and speed, he should be able to provide more rebounds and defensive stats

**💡 Quick Hits:** Zion can be an unstoppable force when he gets a full head of steam, but being a blunt instrument can get you only so far. 

**❓ Big Question(s):** Can Zion still find another gear, or are we going to get just more of what we’ve been seeing over the last few seasons?

**🎯 Draft Range:** 85-95

**⭐ Fantasy Take:** Zion is more of a points league special than anything else. His stat set is too narrow and limited for him to muster much appeal in category scoring leagues. Draft accordingly. 

  
Derik Queen, PF/C

**📊 Trend:** ⬆️

**🗝️ Key Stats:** REB, AST, STL

**⚠️ Risk:** 🟢 ➡️ 🟠 Low to Medium

**🔓 Value Unlock:** Earn steady playing time, whether as a starter or a sixth man

**💡 Quick Hits:** Queen was a strong finisher last season and displayed a diverse stat set. While he has shown he can be an offensive hub, but his defensive contributions still need to catch up.

**❓ Big Question(s):**  Are the Pelicans poised to develop their young players? If so, what kind of ceiling can we expect from Queen?

**🎯 Draft Range:** 70-80

**⭐ Fantasy Take:** Queen is definitely a promising player, but his path to steady minutes and usage is still a question mark. We do know that the Pelicans like him, so he’s got that going for him. He may require patience as he might end up being more of a second-half-of-the-season guy once again. 

  
Saddiq Bey, SF/PF

**📊 Trend:** ⬆️

**🗝️ Key Stats:**  PTS, STL, 3PM, FT%, TO

**⚠️ Risk:** 🟢 Low

**🔓 Value Unlock:** Find a way to improve his FG% while retaining his newfound shooting volume

**💡 Quick Hits:** Bey returned from ACL surgery last season and ended up playing 72 games and recording fresh career-highs in multiple categories. 

**❓ Big Question(s):** What kind of role will Bey have this season with the Pelicans? 

**🎯 Draft Range:** 130-140

**⭐ Fantasy Take:** Bey had a great comeback season in 2025-26, but he needs to show that it’s not just a one-off. He could end up as more of a streamer than a late-round flier given the wealth of players with potential.

Bennedict Mathurin, SG/SF

📊 **Trend:** ⬆️

🗝️ **Key Stats:** PTS, FT%

⚠️ **Risk: 🟢** Low

🔓 **Value Unlock:** Develop an outside shot, do something, anything, on defense

💡 **Quick Hits:** Mathurin gets a new lease this season with a fresh start with the Pelicans who needed another go-to scorer. Mathurin's offense-first approach addresses that need.

❓ **Big Question(s):** Can Mathurin shed the one-dimensionality of his game and produce a more robust fantasy line?

🎯 **Draft Range: 145-155**

**⭐️ Fantasy Take:** Mathurin's game isn't very attractive in category scoring formats, unfortunately. But his scoring tends to be a siren song for managers and they succumb to drafting him much earlier than necessary. He can be a trap. Watch out. 

**👀 Players to Watch:** Herbert Jones, Jeremiah Fears, Yves Missi