Just because season long leagues may have ended, it’s never too early to look ahead to next season. Keeper league rosters must be evaluated, and the offseason officially begins now.  It was another year of tumultuous turnover at the running back position, but overall the “Zero-RB” theory will be a one year fad based on the emergence of some much needed young talent. Wide receivers continue to rule the landscape, but the talent gap was closed a bit down the stretch. Then there were the tight ends who collectively underwhelmed, but a new first tier has emerged in the process.

Here’s the Snap Count Recap for 2016:

RUNNING BACKS

David Johnson led all RB’s with 949 snaps and will likely be the consensus #1 overall pick in 2017. The Fantasy Football Black Book 2016, predicted as such and brings back to the table the concept of drafting based on the year players are going to have rather than the year they just had. DJ looks good from either end of that spectrum and his 2,000+ all-purpose yards and 20 TD’s make him the most valuable asset at the position. Rookie Ezekiel Elliott played 712 snaps, rushed for 1,600+ yards and 16 TD’s. His fresh legs will be a welcome first round addition in 2017. Perhaps equally impressive was Le'Veon Bell's 781 snaps (3rd most at RB) despite missing the first 3 games due to suspension. All 3 will be top 5 picks in all formats next season.

If that trio were shining stars, then Todd Gurley was a black hole. Despite 698 snaps played, he scored just 6 TD’s and failed to reach 900 yards. Adrian Peterson played only 84 snaps all year and his 2017 stock is in serious question. Now, Peterson has come back to fool us before, but his 1.9 YPC are troubling. The clock may be ticking on Eddie Lacy (166 snaps), Ryan Mathews (287), and Doug Martin (321) in terms of fantasy relevance.

Every year new back emerge, but 2016 showed more promise than the previous year without a doubt. Melvin Gordon (658 snaps) was a TD machine with 12 total. Jordan Howard (616 snaps) was a waiver wire savior and potential keeper (1,300 yards on just 252 attempts. While Jay Ajayi (547) had some explosive weeks that carried entire fantasy lineups numerous times. All of them will be sought after in 2017 drafts with good reason and may be the respective focal points of their offenses moving forward.

WIDE RECEIVERS

In the category of “playing time doesn’t necessarily equal productivity” I give you DeAndre Hopkins in 2016. Despite a league leading 1029 snaps played, he failed to reach 1,000 yards, caught just 78 balls and 4 TD’s. Now to be fair his QB play was dreadful, but perhaps we should have given more respect to what Brian Hoyer did in Houston circa 2015 with Hopkins. Fellow first rounder Allen Robinson was 3rd in snaps played for WR (980), but he too failed to deliver first round stats (73/883/6). Their 2017 perception will vary greatly, but I’d bet on both making a bounce back (especially if the Jaguars hire a competent HC/OC).

Jordy Nelson (945 snaps) made a triumphant return with 91 catches for 1,191 yards and 14 TD’s. Sterling Shepard was a surprising rookie workhorse (944 snaps) and finished strong with 6 TD’s over his final 9 games. T.Y. Hilton (877 snaps) and Mike Evans (894) emerged as first round locks for 2017. Evans 1,300+ yards and 12 TD’s puts his right in the conversation with Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham and Julio Jones. Hilton was perhaps the most underappreciated receiver in football with 1,400 yards and 6 TD’s.  Terrelle Pryor (836 snaps), Tyrell Williams (830) and Kenny Britt (791) all went from the waiver wire claims to 2017 WR2 consideration.

TIGHT ENDS

He may have been 5th best in snaps played for a TE (839), but Travis Kelce was the best fantasy TE in football last season. Greg Olsen led the position with 986 snaps played, but his mid-season slump and 3 TD’s held back his overall value. Kyle Rudolph (921 snaps) finally delivered on his promise as Sam Bradford’s 4 yard passes seemed to fit Rudolph’s style (840 yards/7 TD’s). Jimmy Graham (752) bounced back after a dismal 2015. A PPR asset seems to be hatching on Philadelphia as Zach Ertz (781 snaps) caught 78 balls and emerged as rookie Carson Wentz’s most reliable target. Cameron Brate was a TD monster (8) over 705 snaps. Unfortunately once again, injuries limited Rob Gronkowski to just 352 snaps and 3 TD’s making him a first round bust yet again. Hopefully, folks will finally learn that Gronk is not a fantasy player to build a team around. Although, depending on how far his stock falls, he could finally become a reasonable value. Maybe.

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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 On Target Fantasy weekdays at 12 noon est, The Fantasy Black Book Show Tues/Turs 8-10pm est & Sunday Game Day 8-11am on FNTSY Network Radio.