Fratello’s Fantasy Pick

Phoenix Suns v Denver NuggetsPhoenix’s combo guard Eric Bledsoe has ignited the Suns with a blazing start early in his fourth pro season. His lightly-talented team opened with a surprising 5-2 record thanks to Bledsoe’s impressive leadership and production.

The former Kentucky Wildcat was traded to the Suns this past summer after spending his first three years with the Los Angeles Clippers. After one season in Lexington, Bledsoe was selected 18th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. Bledsoe played in 81 games for the Clips his rookie season and started 25 of them.

During Bledsoe’s second year in LaLa Land, the Clippers acquired All-World PG Chris Paul, and Bledsoe was bench-bound. In fact, he spent much of the 2011-2012 season in the D-League. Now in Phoenix, free from the shadow of the best 1-guard in the league, it looks like Bledsoe’s minutes and numbers will soar.

So far the super-athletic “Mini-LeBron James” is averaging 20.9 ppg, 7.3 apg, 4.4 rpg and 1.9 spg while shooting .552 % from the field and .811 % from the line in the first 7 contests of his 2013-14 campaign. These All-Star caliber numbers are an incredible jump up from his Clippers’ career averages of 6.7 ppg, 3 apg, 2.6 rpg, 1.2 spg, .431 % and .739 %.

In the Sun’s hard-fought loss to OKC earlier this month, Bledsoe had perhaps the most impressive stat line of his career: 26 points, 14 dimes, 7 boards and 3 steals in 40 minutes of burn.

Add Bledsoe to your fantasy roster if you can before he slips into conversations about top NBA guards and soars out of reach.

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