With injuries, lineup changes and other roster moves affecting playing time, it is important to keep your fantasy lineup up-to-date. Here are some under-the-radar players to take a look at to fill in the final spots on your team, as well as some who no longer warrant ownership.

Take a look at…

Marcus Smart (PG – Bos) – 14.3% owned: The biggest (and only) trade of the NBA season so far sent Boston’s long-time point guard Rajon Rondo out of town. The keys to the offence are now handed to sixth-overall pick Smart, and it makes sense for the re-building Celtics to invest some time in him. He has struggled with injuries and hasn’t flashed any numbers since the trade, but the bumpy road is worth keeping an eye on long-term.

Robert Covington (SF/PF - Phi) – 36% owned: Sometimes it’s fun to wonder if Covington would rather still be in the D-League than play for the lowly 76ers. Regardless, somebody has to score on Philadelphia and Covington has taken up the challenge. Along with grabbing a solid amount of rebounds, he is hitting threes at a 46.3 per cent rate this season. Since becoming a regular part of the rotation at the start of the month, Covington has averaged 16.8 points per game.

Mason Plumlee (C - Bkn) – 23% owned: As long as oft-injured centre Brook Lopez remains sidelined, Plumlee should be owned in any format. Over his last five games, Plumlee has averaged 18 points and 10.2 rebounds per game along with nearly two blocks. It remains uncertain what will happen to the lineup once Lopez returns, but Plumlee’s strong play has been enough to warrant more playing time in the future.

C.J. Miles (SF - Ind) – 5.3% owned: While the Pacers have experimented with different lineups throughout the season, Miles has put up good numbers when starting. Over his last four games, Miles is averaging over 20 points per contest and will contribute multiple threes on a nightly basis. He won’t provide much else on the boxscore, but those looking for a scoring bunch that includes shots from long-distance, Miles could be the answer.

Notables: Khris Middleton (SF – Mil), Mo Williams (PG – Min)

 

Maybe say goodbye to…

J.R. Smith (SG – NYK) – 21.9% owned: The timeline on a return from Smith’s foot injury still remains unclear even after he’s missed nearly two weeks because of it. The emergence of Tim Hardaway Jr. in his absence could further cut into Smith’s value when he comes back. Even before his injury, Smith’s output was extremely inconsistent, resulting in 41 per cent shooting and only 10.3 points per game. Those looking for scoring shouldn’t wait for Smith’s return and can look at other options.

Corey Brewer (SF - Hou) – 20.4% owned: His trade to Houston moved Brewer from a starting role in Minnesota to the bench. While he has yet to suit up for the Rockets, there is no chance, barring injury, that he will start on this team. Brewer is not worth owning anymore, especially on a loaded Rockets squad.

Courtney Lee (SG – Mem) – 29.8% owned: This could be a gamble and he should only be dropped in shallower leagues. Lee’s hot start was one of the early-season surprises, however he has cooled off as of late. Even though he is still shooting a great percentage, Lee’s points per game have dropped to single digits in December. He doesn’t provide much else on the stat sheet, and there have been a number of games where he has failed to hit a three-pointer. Lee could bounce back, but there are other players available.

Jeremy Lin (PG - LAL) – 37.9% owned: When the Lakers reshuffled their starting lineup, Lin was one of the victims who got moved to a bench role. Since then, he has struggled to score in double digits but can still provide an admirable amount of assists. If there is a starting point guard available on the wire, now would be the time to make the switch. The Lakers season has been a disaster, and Ronnie Price’s play as a starter hasn’t exactly cemented his spot either. For now, Lin’s not worth owning.

Notables: K.J. McDaniels (SG – Phi), Channing Frye (PF – Orl)