Fratello’s Fantasy Pick: Nick Young

Now in his fourth year with the Wizards, shooting guard Nick Young has been anxious to earn more minutes so he can do what he does best: score.

As he’s matured, Young has worked increasingly hard to improve in all the areas that Head Coach Flip Saunders needs him to, and in return he’s been rewarded with more court time. Young is showing his appreciation for this opportunity with an impressive run of high-scoring displays, topped by a stellar performance against the Lakers last week. Young came off the bench and sank six threes in route to a season-high 30 points.

Young is great for Washington’s second unit because he can be explosive and put points on the board in a hurry. In the past Young’s shoot-first mentality frequently led him to opt for off-balance, low-percentage shots rather than passing to his teammates. But he appears to be making better decisions these days, and he’s getting better results. Young also gives the Wizards another guard who is capable of playing multiple positions. His ability to hold  his own at small forward gives his team some versatility and helps fantasy owners too.

Nick Young is averaging 12.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 22 minutes per game. As he continues to sharpen his shot selections and all-around game, his numbers will go up. The Wiz play three games this week including a rematch with the Lakers at home on Tuesday, so look for Young to go big again.