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Special to ESPN.com- Jim McCormick is a fantasy football and fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
Each week of the NFL campaign, we sift through the deeper options at each position with an eye on identifying streaming fantasy commodities with valuable matchups to consider.
Have the rash of recent injuries forced you to seek replacement options for Week 12 in fantasy football competition? We have some choice names to consider for those looking for widely available options at each position.
Quarterback
While banking on the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback isn't normally a recipe for success, my recommendations always come from the pool of players owned in fewer than 20 percent of ESPN.com leagues. McCown, who seemingly gets hurt whenever he plays, has actually posted strong stat lines in games where he played significantly. Case in point: In the nine games in which he participated in at least 39 action plays since the start of 2015, McCown's average stat line is 296 passing yards and just shy of two touchdowns per game. During the course of a full season, that's a 4,700-yard/28-touchdown campaign. -- K.D.
Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
Since the start of Week 6, Kaepernick has rushed for 52 yards per game, 28.1 percent of the 49ers' rushing total, both best among quarterbacks during this stretch. With 34.4 percent of his fantasy production coming from the ground and a respectable clip of 228.8 passing yards per game since assuming starting duties in Week 6, Kaepernick is 10th among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game as San Francisco's starter. The Dolphins' defense has proven resilient and has one of the better pressure rates in the league in the pass-rush phase, but with Kaepernick's ability to escape the pocket and the up-tempo scheme Chip Kelly employs -- the 49ers are eighth in drives per game the past six weeks (11.6) -- we admire his high floor for fantasy purposes, as he's produced at least 17 fantasy points in all but one start this season. -- J.M.
Running back
Wendell Smallwood, Philadelphia Eagles
Both lead backs for the Eagles, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles, left this past Sunday's game with injuries. For Mathews, an MCL sprain points to him likely missing Monday night's game against the Green Bay Packers. Sproles' status is still up in the air, but a fractured rib all but ensures that even if he plays, Smallwood will see significant snaps. The Packers' defense is nothing short of injury-ravaged, which was manifest when Robert Kelley ran for 81 of his 137 rushing yards in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's game. Look for the Eagles' backs to find similar success Monday night. -- K.D.
Matt Asiata, Minnesota Vikings
Even as he's owned in 43 percent of ESPN leagues, Asiata's lowly start rate of 12 percent last week suggests he qualifies as a streaming commodity to consider for Week 12. Jerick McKinnon continues to play more snaps and handle more touches than Asiata in most outings, but a valuable blend of receiving and goal-line work supports a steady fantasy pattern for the bruising change-of-pace back. Asiata doesn't claim a high ceiling, but we have found a reasonably high floor at this eroding fantasy position, as he is one of just 11 tailbacks to produce at least seven fantasy points six times since the start of Week 4 (after Adrian Peterson was sidelined). The Lions have yielded the 11th-most rushing yards and the 10th-most receiving yards per game to backs, evidence Asiata can grind out another flex-worthy outing and even RB2 production at this depleted position. -- J.M.
Wide receiver
Brandon LaFell, Cincinnati Bengals
Obviously, Jim and I agree that someone on the Cincinnati Bengals will step up to fill the void created by A.J. Green's torn hamstring. I'm betting on LaFell, since he's been the second-best wide receiver on the Bengals this season. Among that group, LaFell ranks second on his team in both targets (55) and yards per catch (12.7), with only Green ahead of him. With Green sidelined, expect LaFell's target frequency to increase and a with a game versus the Baltimore Ravens on the horizon, that's great news. The Ravens allow the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, so look for LaFell to be a worthy WR2 candidate this week. -- K.D.
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals
We know the rookie can handle an uptick in targets, as Boyd averaged 8.3 touches per game as a volume-driven receiver for his career at Pitt. It's impressive to consider Boyd has registered a higher rate of targets and catches per route run than LaFell this season, and he produced his six receptions against six different defenders in coverage in Week 11, revealing the team's creative deployment for their young weapon. On those six catches, Andy Dalton enjoyed a passer rating of 132.3 targeting Boyd, his highest rate when throwing to any of the team's pass-catchers. Dalton also produced a QBR of 98.5 targeting Boyd this past Sunday, again highest on the team and a massive chasm from the team-worst rate of 1.1 targeting LaFell. With a high-percentage route tree and versatile ability to line up all over the field, I'm intrigued by Boyd's potential increase in exposure and usage in the wake of injuries to Green and Giovani Bernard. -- J.M.
Tight end
Lance Kendricks, Los Angeles Rams
If you haven't been paying attention, Kendricks has been receiving a steady dose of targets in the Los Angeles Rams offense of late. Specifically, Kendricks has seen six or more targets in four of his past five games, including seven last week when the Rams switched to Jared Goff at quarterback. Playing the New Orleans Saints on Sunday is just the type of matchup that should make Kendricks usable. The Saints have allowed the third-most receiving yardage this season and even if Goff can't be trusted to air it out, there should be enough opportunities for Kendricks to gather in at least five catches for 50 yards. -- K.D.
Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers
It's rare we find a tight end dependent on big-play production, but with McDonald averaging 17.6 yards per catch while working with Kaepernick the past five games, such is the case. We don't find a steady series of opportunities for McDonald -- he's averaging just 5.1 targets per game since Kaepernick took over starting duties -- yet we do admire the fact he's been targeted on 21 percent of his routes, best among the team's receivers and tight ends since the start of Week 6. McDonald faces a Miami defense yielding seven fantasy points and 52 yards per game to tight ends, allowance rates that help support streaming interest in this big-play maven for Week 12. -- J.M.
Defense/special teams
If the thought of possibly playing a Chicago Bears offense without Alshon Jeffery, Zach Miller and Jay Cutler doesn't scream "streaming opportunity," I don't know what will. Jeffery and Miller are certain to miss Sunday's game and, while we will get more information as the week progresses, any injury to a quarterback's throwing shoulder should raise an immediate red flag. In his limited playing time, Matt Barkley completed six of 15 pass attempts for no touchdowns and two interceptions in relief of an injured Brian Hoyer during the Bears' Week 7 loss to the Packers. The Packers have one of the worst defensive backfields in the league and the Bears' receiving corps is a shell of what it was just two weeks ago. Everyone should put a claim in on the Titans, even if only to block their opponent from grabbing them. -- K.D.
New Orleans Saints
With nine sacks and six takeaways in the past three games, the Saints' defense has proven productive from a fantasy perspective recently. The real selling point here is the matchup, as rookie Jared Goff struggled in his debut last week in completing just 54.8 percent of his passes for a lowly 4.35 yards per attempt. Not every league accommodates streaming strong matchups each week at this position, as there are formats where managers often hold onto two defenses and thus the free-agent market is thin this time of year. In those types of scenarios and with the Saints poised as sizable home favorites over a Rams team that rates last in the league with 1.22 points per drive, New Orleans is an interesting streaming commodity. -- J.M.
Individual defensive players
Linebacker
Danny Trevathan, Chicago Bears
With 24 tackles in his past two outings and a penchant for big plays during his career, Trevathan could sustain this awesome tackle rate with Jerrell Freeman sidelined due to a four-game suspension. The Titans' run-heavy approach could feed Trevathan, who is available in nearly 80 percent of leagues, with a steady stream of tackle opportunities. -- J.M.
Defensive back
A snap rate of 77 percent during the past three games with valuable freedom as the team's free safety has led to Wilson averaging a stellar 8.1 fantasy points per game using ESPN's IDP scoring model. Facing the Vikings' short-pass-centric offense, Wilson could enjoy another nice day in the tackle department on Thanksgiving afternoon. For those seeking a streamer for Sunday, how about Washington's Donte Whitner? The strong safety has averaged 8.75 tackles during his past four games and should be busy in the box against Dallas' stellar running attack. -- J.M.
Defensive line
Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Like a hitter amid a power surge, Tuitt has been pressuring the pocket with regularity of late, as he has 3.5 sacks in the past two games. The Colts have allowed the highest pressure rate of the season to opposing pass rushers, thus Tuitt is well positioned for a strong outing. Tennessee's Derrick Morgan is another solid option this week, as he has eight sacks in his past seven games. -- J.M.