The run game continues to shine in 2016, but not necessarily from the “elite” ADP running backs. A whopping 8 backs went over 100 yards for the second straight week. That was the first time all season that’s happened and Jay Ajayi led the charge again with 200+ yards. The Dolphins have clearly shifted their mindset and are now featuring Ajayi as the centerpiece of the offense, rather than quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The result has been back to back wins for Miami, but the Dolphins aren’t the only fluid offensive situation developing before our eyes in the NFL.

Here’s the Snap Count Recap for Week 7:

RUNNING BACKS

Well, the inevitable is finally settling in for the Denver Broncos. C.J. Anderson played 29 snaps (16 carries for 107 and a TD) Monday night, while Devontae Booker played 35 snaps (17 carries for 83 yards and a TD as well). As foretold in July by The Fantasy Black Book, by week 8 this situation would be a 50/50 split and it arrived a week ahead of schedule. Booker has the most upside between the two, but this will likely be as frustrating a situation going forward as the Falcons backfield for fantasy owners. C.J. Anderson owners should explore the trade market for him to either a Booker owner or a team desperate for RB play.

Jamaal Charles continues to drag along playing just 2 snaps and it’s shaping us as a lost season for the once featured back. While Charles seems to be on death’s door, Matt Forte has risen from the ashes. Sunday he played 57 snaps and garnered 30 carries for 102 yards and a TD. The Jets have underutilized Forte recently until this weekend. When you consider the fact that in their wins he’s been a major factor, it makes you scratch your head and wonder what the Jets’ OC is thinking. Expect that trend to continue.  

Melvin Gordon continues to be inefficient on the ground (65 snaps, 20 carries, 61 yards), but his high TD totals (3 TD’s combined on Sunday) keep him fantasy relevant. Latavius Murray was more active this weekend than he had been in weeks (42 snaps) and scored 2 TD’s. However, he still averaged only a hair over 3 YPC over 18 touches. Jacquizz Rodgers proved that, like Jay Ajayi, he too was no one week wonder. Rodgers had 26 carries for 154 yards. He may not have crossed the goal line, but he proved once again he can carry featured back workload.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Jordy Nelson led the Packers in snaps last Thursday with 83, but he wasn’t even close to being the most productive receiver. Randall Cobb (78 snaps, 15 targets, 11 catches for 95 and a TD), Davante Adams (70 snaps, 16 targets, 13 catches for 132 yards and 2TD’s) and Ty Montgomery (60 snaps, 12 targets, 9 catches for 59 yards and 9 rushes for 60 in the absence of Eddie Lacy) all dwarfed Nelson’s 1 catch for 9 yards on 4 targets. Expect Jordy Nelson to jump right back into fantasy relevance this weekend. As far as what to make of the other three after this explosive night: expect Cobb to continue his recent uptick in performance as a trend, utilize Montgomery as long as he’s getting carries and don’t expect any consistency from Adams.

DeAndre Hopkins continues to wallow in the filth that is the quarterback play of Brock Osweiler. Hopkins was targeted 12 times but caught just 5 balls for 36 yards on 70 snaps. There comes a point where no matter how tempting the matchup, Hopkins has to be avoided in DFS until the QB shows up for a game. In season long you may have to take what you can get for him in a trade or consider better options in shallow leagues. On the flip side, Tyrell Williams is trending in the right direction as he played 66 snaps, caught 7 of his 10 targets for 140 yards against the Falcons. It will be tough to imagine the Chargers beating Denver twice (or in Denver this time), but Williams is still a must start in PPR leagues.

There were a few performances that were solid, but lacked the almighty TD. Golden Tate saw just 44 snaps, but he was able to build on his Week 6 breakout with 6 catches on 12 targets for 93 yards. Jameson Crowder (55 snaps) also looks like another receiver becoming fully integrated into his offense. On Sunday, Crowder put up 7 catches for 108 yards. Throw in Saints WR Michael Thomas (62 snaps, 12 targets, 9 catches for 11 yards) into that mix as well. If these three keep up that volume, more TD’s will come their way. The same can’t be said for the Jaguars wide outs. It seems no matchup can get the Jaguars crew going, as Allen Robinson (66 snaps) and Allen Hurns (57) combined for just 54 yards on 6 catches as a unit. With the way Blake Bortles plays on the road, things aren’t going to get better in Week 8 for this duo.

TIGHT ENDS

Ok, Jack Doyle is for real. It took some of us longer than others to buy into that fact, but on Sunday Doyle played 65 snaps and caught 19 pf 10 targets for 78 yards and a TD. Even when Dwayne Allen is 100% again, Doyle may end up being the preferred fantasy option. Kyle Rudolph saw a lot of action (72 snaps and 11 targets) but caught just 5 balls for 55 yards against a rejuvenated Eagles defense. Delanie Walker continues to be one of the most efficient tight ends in football. On Sunday, Walker played 54 snaps, caught 7 of 8 targets for 84 yards and a TD. Dennis Pitta was targeted 10 times over his 46 snaps, but could only muster a 4/40 slash. If Hunter Henry should miss time with the concussion he sustained last weekend, expect Antonio Gates’ snap count to rise from last week’s 38 to 45 or more. Speaking of concussed tight ends, in Jordan Reed’s absence Vernon Davis continues to shine. His 71 snaps played were 3rd most played by a tight end Week 7, and he caught all 7 of his targets for 79 yards (and just missed a TD). Just when you thought you’d seen it all, Vernon Davis is now “a thing” in 2016. What next? I shudder at the thought…

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Joe Pisapia (@JoePisapia17) is the eight-time best-selling author of the Fantasy Black Book Series for baseball and football. He hosts The Fantasy Black Book Show Tues/Turs 8-10pm est & Sunday Game Day 8-11am on FNTSY Network Radio.