VJ Edgecombe Clear to Play as Shorthanded Pacers Limp Into Philly
Edgecombe is off the injury report entirely while Indiana nurses a long list of banged-up bodies, including a questionable Tyrese Haliburton.
A gutted Pacers rotation opens the door for a big usage night.
- Edgecombe off the injury report entirely
- Haliburton questionable — left hamstring tightness
- Nembhard questionable, missed Bucks loss (neck)
- Zubac ruled out with ankle sprain
- Pacers already down 3 reserves incl. T.J. McConnell
The good news for Sixers managers is the cleanest kind: VJ Edgecombe doesn't appear on Philadelphia's injury report at all ahead of Wednesday's matchup with the Pacers. Head into the night without a single tag on his name, and that's exactly where you want your rookie before a game against a depleted opponent.
The same can't be said for Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton is questionable with left hamstring tightness after suiting up in all four games since returning from a torn Achilles, and Ivica Zubac has already been ruled out with an ankle sprain. Andrew Nembhard is questionable too, dealing with neck soreness that cost him the Bucks loss two nights ago. That's a lot of holes to patch in one lineup.
Philadelphia's own report is short by comparison. Jabari Walker misses a second straight game with left knee soreness, and Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall remain sidelined — though the Sixers noted Fall was a full participant at practice, as was Edgecombe. For Barlow, who posted 19.3 fantasy points per game across 71 appearances last season (2025-26), the continued absence keeps him off the radar for now.
The Oubre Angle
The subplot here is Kelly Oubre Jr. facing the Sixers for the first time after three seasons in Philadelphia. With Indiana potentially missing Haliburton, Nembhard and Zubac, plus three reserves already ruled out including former Sixer T.J. McConnell, someone has to soak up the minutes and shots. Oubre is a natural beneficiary, and a revenge game against your old team rarely hurts the usage either.
Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith are at least probable, which helps Indiana avoid total collapse. Nesmith sits at our rank #17 overall (#8 at his position) and is trending up — he's averaged 1.6 fantasy points above his season mark over his last five. With Zubac out and Nembhard shaky, Nesmith's floor and ceiling both tick higher on Wednesday.
The fantasy playbook: start Edgecombe with full confidence given the clean report and the matchup. If you've got Oubre rostered, plug him in and bank on the extra volume a shorthanded Pacers group hands him. Monitor Haliburton and Nembhard right up to tip — if either sits, Nesmith and Oubre both get a bump, and even a healthy Toppin becomes a sneaky deep-league play. Barlow stays a hold until he's back on the floor.
