T.J. McConnell

McConnell didn't get the starting nod with Andrew Nembhard (quad) sidelined, but he was still able to make a strong contribution off the bench. He led the team in assists and scored in double figures for a fifth straight game. He is rostered in just 19 percent of Yahoo! leagues but has provided fifth-round value during this stretch. If Nembhard remains out against the Bulls on Saturday, McConnell should see a nice boost in value once again, especially if the game is closer.

Sheppard and Huff will enter the starting unit in place of Andrew Nembhard (quad) and Isaiah Jackson. Sheppard will get the nod instead of T.J. McConnell, though McConnell should still see a bump in minutes. Huff will replace Jackson as the starting center, though both should continue to split the minutes down low.

Nembhard will miss the first leg of this back-to-back, which will open up the starting spot at point guard. T.J. McConnell should slide into the role, which will make him a high-priority option as long as Nembhard is unavailable. Ben Sheppard may also pick up a few extra minutes.

Nembhard is dealing with a right quad contusion, and Friday's game is the first of two in as many nights for the Pacers. If he's unable to play, T.J. McConnell's fantasy ceiling will rise, even if he remains in a reserve role. Ben Sheppard may pick up additional minutes in this scenario, but he has not been productive enough to be worth the risk in fantasy leagues.

Despite coming off the bench, McConnell can still be of value to fantasy managers, especially those competing in deeper leagues. The points, rebounds and assists were solid on Wednesday, and he's ranked just outside the top-150 in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. McConnell is worth rostering in deeper leagues, especially while the Pacers are willing to play their veterans in a season that has already gone off the rails.