A lot of big, relevant names are questionable to take the court Wednesday night. Damian Lillard, Kristaps Porzingis, Chris Paul, LeBron James, and Kevin Love are among those who have not been cleared to play yet. Hassan Whiteside and Blake Griffin will both miss more time.

Who will step up in their respective absence?

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/4/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @DemetriRafto.

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DraftKings DFS Guards

C.J. McCollum - PG/SG, @ GS ($8,600)

With Damian Lillard sidelined over Portland's last four contests, McCollum has stepped up tremendously in the scoring department. In each of the four games without Lillard, McCollum has dropped 20 or more points, including a 43-point performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves in his most recent. McCollum struggled the last time the Trail Blazers played the Golden State Warriors, but could be heavily relied upon for production if Lillard misses his fifth straight. The Warriors have also allowed the second most fantasy points to guards this season.

Raymond Felton - PG, vs MEM ($4,600)

The Los Angeles Clippers head into a difficult matchup against a defensively-talented Memphis Grizzlies squad. They will also likely take the court without one of their top guns, Chris Paul. Austin Rivers should draw the start at point guard against the Grizzlies, but it has been Raymond Felton who has performed better in CP3's absence. In Los Angeles' last contest, Felton dropped 16 points against the Phoenix Suns. He also posted 45.75 fantasy points in a 26 point effort against the Houston Rockets right before the new year. He's inexpensive and will see another boost in playing time.

Jodie Meeks - SG, vs ATL ($4,400)

Jodie Meeks is another player that has been taking advantage of a teammate's injury, and could see an uptick in minutes in his next contest. With Evan Fournier sidelined because of a sore heel, Meeks stepped up for 23 points in 32 minutes against the New York Knicks. He nailed six of seven from behind the arc and could find himself pulling the trigger from downtown just as often against a talented Atlanta ball club. His status is handcuffed to Fournier's injury, but can prove to be another affordable option that can free up cap space.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

Carmelo Anthony - SF, vs MIL ($7,100)

The New York Knicks have lost five straight games and have dropped drastically in the rankings, out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after finding a bit of a groove earlier in December. In order to snap out of the snide, the Knickerbockers will need their best performance from their leader. The Knicks might also again take the court without Kristaps Porzingis, putting the ball in Carmelo Anthony's hands for a majority of the game. Melo has struggled alongside his team, and will need to wake up from the field in order to help New York get back on track.

Draymond Green - PF/C, vs POR ($7,500)

I'm a huge fan of Draymond's price entering Wednesday night's slate. Any player listed under $8,000 capable of posting a triple-double consistently is more than okay in my book. Draymond is coming off a triple-double against the Denver Nuggets in his last contest, and did some damage against the Trail Blazers in their last meeting. Draymond scored only three points, but grabbed 12 boards and dished out 13 dimes in the team's blowout win earlier in December. He doesn't need to do much to exceed projection, especially at his price.

Maurice Harkless - SF, @ GS ($4,700)

Harkless is another Portland player that has stepped up in the absence of Damian Lillard. Harkless has posted showings of 20-plus fantasy points in each of his last four contests, and has scored in double-digits in three over that span. Harkless will not wow you with his stat lines, but will be called upon for a workload of over 30 minutes against a dangerous Warriors squad, especially if Lillard misses his fifth straight game. He has also posted at least one steal in 10 straight games.

DraftKings DFS Centers

DeMarcus Cousins - C/PF, vs MIA ($11,500)

Hassan Whiteside will not play against the Sacramento Kings Wednesday night, leaving the court wide open for DeMarcus Cousins to feast on yet another opponent. Willie Reed will likely start in Whiteside's place, with Udonis Haslem also likely inheriting more minutes. Although, neither of the two pose the same threat that Whiteside does offensively and defensively. Cousins is expensive but worth every penny considering his high ceiling. He has posted 50-plus fantasy points in four straight games, including five steals in his last contest. Cousins is a dangerous stat-spreader and the highest price option on the slate next to Russell Westbrook.

Greg Monroe - C, @ NY ($4,800)

Monroe has seen a boost in minutes in three of his last four games. Over that span, the big man has posted 30-plus fantasy points in three and has become a big part of Jason Kidd's second unit despite his inconsistency this season. Monroe has feasted on the Knicks in a Detroit Pistons uniform in the past and should see plenty of action against a struggling New York squad.

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