Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back), while taking questions from the media on Monday, stated he does not need surgery. He also said "he's definitely feeling better" and plans to play every game next season. While Williams' proclamation regarding his availability throughout the 2024-25 campaign could be a stretch, fantasy managers are still glad to hear things are moving in the right direction. The 22-year-old averaged a career-high 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks this season. However, Williams was limited to only 19 games because of a back injury. With that said, he's not worth reaching for in fantasy drafts, but he could easily surpass his ADP expectations if he stays healthy.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) will remain a spectator for Friday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, and it's likely to stay that way for about another month. General manager Mitch Kupchak revealed on Friday that while Williams is expected to return this season, he won't be re-evaluated for approximately four more weeks. It's not the update fantasy managers were looking for, and the 10-40 Hornets are unlikely to have much incentive to bring back the second-year big man in March. Williams should stay stashed for managers who can afford the roster spot, but those needing healthy bodies now can at least consider pulling the plug at this point. With P.J. Washington shipped away on Thursday and Grant Williams unavailable, Nick Richards should get all the run he can handle at the five against the struggling Bucks and going forward.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) is still out for Wednesday's game versus the Toronto Raptors. Williams' absence will now reach the two-month mark due to recovery from a lingering lower back contusion, and he remains out indefinitely. With Gordon Hayward (calf) getting upgraded to questionable on Wednesday following a lengthy hiatus, Williams will hope for a similarly positive update ahead of Friday's clash with the Milwaukee Bucks. Fellow paint presence Nick Richards has enjoyed an extended run of boosted fantasy value, most recently averaging 12.5 points on 69.2% field-goal shooting, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 31.0 minutes across his last eight appearances, and he finds himself in a favorable position against Toronto's mediocre defense on Wednesday.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) will not play in Monday's game versus the Los Angeles Lakers. There just doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel here, with Williams now being absent for a 29th consecutive game. Until the Hornets provide an update on the 22-year-old interior presence's recovery from a lower back contusion, he should be deemed doubtful ahead of each tilt. Charlotte next hosts the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. In the meantime, Nick Richards will continue to man the middle for head coach Steve Clifford. A strong source of boards, swats, and field-goal percentage, Richards is providing 13.7 points on 72.5% field-goal shooting, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game since Jan. 24.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) is still out for Friday's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Williams continues to sit out as part of his lengthy recovery from a lower back injury, having not been spotted on the floor since Dec. 8. It's been a frustratingly long layoff for fantasy managers, and even though Williams should be deemed doubtful at best to return on Sunday when the 10-36 Hornets host the Indiana Pacers, we would recommend continuing to hang onto the second-year big man in all fantasy leagues for upside to rack up blocks and rebounds when healthy. Nick Richards will remain Charlotte's starting center and a solid fantasy option in the meantime, and across his latest five games, he's averaging a strong 15.2 points on 75.0% shooting from the floor, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) has been ruled out again for their contest against the Houston Rockets on Friday. Instead of just a "back contusion" he's now listed on the injury report with "injury recovery." That doesn't give much of a timetable for his return, but it does seem to finally be trending in the right direction. He's missed 22 consecutive games and this will be his 23rd. The last game he played was back on December 8, but he wasn't able to play the entire time due to his back issue. Nick Richards is going to remain in the starting lineup as long as Williams is sidelined and he can be a quality streaming option until that time.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) will remain on the sidelines Wednesday against Detroit. He's missed 21 games while dealing with a back problem, last featuring on Dec. 8. Nick Richards (ankle) has had a good spell as Williams' replacement in the starting five, but he also recently landed on the shelf. The injuries have helped Nathan Mensah break into the rotation. However, he's been very quiet all around, while P.J. Washington has also struggled for consistency as the new starting center.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) remains out on Friday against the Spurs. It appears the trend will continue moving forward, with head coach Steve Clifford reporting that the 22-year-old isn't nearing a return. Williams has nearly averaged a double-double this season. However, until Williams is ready to return, Nick Richards (ankle) should continue to fill most of the void in the middle. But with Richards also questionable against San Antonio, JT Thor and Nathan Mensah could see enough work to warrant streaming in deeper fantasy setups.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) remains out on Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings. Fantasy managers didn't expect the big man to be out this long. However, he'll now miss his 15th consecutive game. Unfortunately, Williams will miss more time because of the back contusion, meaning Nick Richards will remain in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future. The 26-year-old has played well in his 15 appearances as a starter this season, averaging 8.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. With production like that, Richards should be featured in all fantasy lineups, especially for category managers looking for boards and swats.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) has already been ruled out of Monday night's game against the Chicago Bulls. Usually, the team has been listing him as doubtful and then downgrading him the day of the game, but they didn't bother with that same song and dance this time around. There still isn't a timetable for Williams' return from his lower back contusion. There hasn't even been an update on how he feels and how much it's been limiting him from practice. So, while he sits out for a 14th consecutive game, Nick Richards will get the start at center again. Nathan Mensah saw some of the backup minutes in their last contest, while JT Thor could see some opportunities as well.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) will remain a spectator for Friday's matchup with the Chicago Bulls due to his lingering lower back contusion. With no end to his absence in sight, Williams appears to be out indefinitely rather than day-to-day at this point. Despite a streak of 12 consecutive games missed after Friday's action, the 22-year-old interior presence needs to be stashed in all nine-category fantasy leagues. Williams is posting fifth-round value in those 12-team formats. Nick Richards is the direct fantasy beneficiary of Williams' absence, averaging 9.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 13 starts this season.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Williams has missed over 10 games in a row due to a lower back contusion. It's uncertain when Williams will get back on the court, but for now fantasy managers should continue to consider him as day-to-day. In the meantime, Nick Richards will remain as the starting center and see a boost in fantasy value. Richards is well worth rostering in most fantasy formats while Williams is out.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) is tagged as doubtful to return from an absence of 11 consecutive games on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings with a lower back contusion. Williams continues to pile up doubtful designations, insinuating that his return for Charlotte is not exactly imminent. Despite the lingering absence, the 22-year-old Duke product needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues and hopes to return on Friday against the Chicago Bulls. In 12 starts without Williams this season, Nick Richards is collecting 9.4 points on 66.7% field-goal shooting, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 29.4 minutes per contest for the short-handed Hornets and remains worth rostering for a stopgap source of boards and swats.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) won't return for Monday's meeting with the Denver Nuggets. The 22-year-old hasn't played in weeks because of a back issue. At this rate, nobody can say when he'll be back on the court. However, until then, Nick Richards will continue to handle things underneath the rim. Richards has averaged 8.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 11 starts this season. But with Terry Rozier (illness), Gordon Hayward (calf), and LaMelo Ball (ankle) out, Richards might be more productive.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) is unlikely to return to action in Monday's meeting with Denver. He's again listed as doubtful on the injury report. A lower back contusion has kept Williams on the sidelines for 10 games, and the Hornets have no reason to rush him back with the season going nowhere. Nick Richards should get another start without Williams on Monday. He recently had a three-game double-double streak and has posted 8.9 points and 8.4 rebounds with 1.5 blocks in the role this season.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) continues to struggle with a lower back contusion. He's been listed as doubtful over the last handful of games and each time he was downgraded to out. He hasn't played since December 8 and this will likely be his tenth consecutive game missed. Nick Richards will remain in the starting lineup which makes him a solid streaming option in most fantasy leagues. In this stretch while in the starting lineup, Richards has averaged 9.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 69.2% from the floor and 70.0% from the line.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (ankle) and center Mark Williams (back) remain without definitive return timetables. Head coach Steve Clifford says Ball is "working hard with his treatment", but ClutchPoints.com's Tomer Azarly reports that Ball has yet to take contact. Clifford relayed Tuesday that Williams "did more than he's done for a while" at morning shootaround. Ball is probably a bit further away from returning than Williams, since he is dealing with a sprained right ankle that's shelved him since Nov. 28. The 7-21 Hornets miss Ball's 24.7 points, 8.2 assists, 3.5 threes, and 1.4 steals per night, but they're not going to rush their All-Star guard back. Terry Rozier will continue to command the offense. Williams' lower back contusion has cost him nine of Charlotte's last 10 dates, and he hopes to return on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Nick Richards has held down the fort at the five in Williams' stead.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The big man continues to miss time due to a lower back contusion. Nick Richards will remain the starting five and will likely continue to do that until Williams returns. Richards has been playing well and should be rostered in basically all fantasy formats right now.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) remains out for Saturday's matchup with the Nuggets. The 22-year-old has missed his last six games (and seven of his previous eight) because of a low back contusion, so it's anyone's guess when he'll be back on the floor. As a result, Nick Richards will remain in the starting lineup. Richards has averaged 8.0 points, 7.9 boards, and 1.4 blocks in seven starts this season, giving him a higher ceiling for fantasy managers.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) continues to hang around on the injury report with a doubtful tag ahead of Saturday's matchup against Denver. A lower back issue has kept him out for six games, and the signs aren't good that he will be able to return on Saturday. Nick Richards should continue to start in his absence, with P.J. Washington mainly providing backup at the five. Centers have posted good numbers against the Nuggets all season long, so it could be a good matchup for Charlotte's healthy bigs.