Five Most Dropped Players: December 30-January 5

1. Kirk Hinrich (11.2 points, 5 assists, 85.9% FT%): Fantasy owners have dropped Hinrich in droves over the last week after Kirk suffered a thigh injury that's caused him to miss the last few games. The injury shouldn't keep him out long, though, and he'll remain an integral part of Washington's rotation when he returns. We expect him to continue playing around 30 minutes a game once he's healthy and we recommend picking him up if you need help at point guard. Hinrich is available in just over half of leagues.
2. Caron Butler (15 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1 steal): It's no surprise Butler is ending up on the waiver wire following the announcement that he's out for the rest of the season. If you still have him on your roster for some reason, start looking for a replacement immediately.
3. Channing Frye (10.5 points, 1.7 three-pointers, 5.9 rebounds, 1 block): Many team managers have panicked as Frye was moved to the bench in favor of Mickael Pietrus and he's struggled in his return to the bench. We are also worried about Frye because he failed to produce off the bench at the start of the season and he may just be one of those players that thrives as a starter. Frye owners will have to keep a close eye on him over the next few games. Because he's played so well this season, we want to wait and see if he's just in a funk. If his struggles persist, those in standard leagues may have to drop him.
4. Brandon Roy (16.6 points, 1.1 three-pointers, 1.1 steals, 87.3% FT%): With the recent news that Roy is out indefinitely and Roy himself stating he may not play for the rest of the season, many fantasy owners have lost all hope on one of their top picks. If your league doesn't have an IR spot, we would recommend dropping Roy. If he returns, it won't be until the end of the season. If Portland is still in playoff contention in March, it may be worth monitoring any news on Roy in case he tries to come back for a playoff run. But if the Blazers are out of the picture by then, we may not see Brandon suit up until next season.
5. Ty Lawson (11.3 points, 4.1 assists, 48.9% FG%): With Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups healthy, Lawson's minutes and production have dropped off. He's a deep league option while the starters are healthy, but he's worth an add in standard formats if Denver suffers another injury in the back court.