ProFootball Focus lists Dolphins Jay Ajayi 2nd team running back

The Miami Dolphins have a player on the ProFootballFocus annual All-Pro team. Players are added to the “team” based on their production numbers and “grades”.

This years class has Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi listed as the 2nd team running back. Based on his yards after contact 3.5, which lead the NFL and his 58 broken tackles. Which PFF points out is 11 more than any other ground runner.

First team runner when to rookie Ezekiel Elliot which was not much of a surprise. Ajayi’s entry is important to note that unlike Elliot, Ajayi’s offensive line was a hodgepodge throughout the year as players rotated in due to injuries that eventually took Mike Pouncey out for the year.

Ajayi is joined on the list by Ndamukong Suh who was a 2nd teamer on the interior defensive line. Suh has had a very good year in 2016. Cameron Wake on the other hand did not receive a spot on the list, nor an honorable mention.

So what does all this mean? Nothing. It means nothing. But it shows that the Dolphins gamble of letting Lamar Miller leave in free agency and banking on what they knew of Ajayi paid off. Ajayi had three 200 yard games in the regular season and rushed for over 1,000 yards despite missing the first game due to a disciplinary reason.

The fact that the Dolphins, who were decimated by injuries throughout the year, made the playoff and won 10 games is a testament to the coaching staff and the ability for players like Ajayi to make plays.

These Dolphins are still mainly comprised of hold over players from the Joe Philbin era and now that Mike Tannenbaum and Chris Grier have a better feel for the type of players Adam Gase likes, this off-season could put the Dolphins in position to challenge the Patriots in 2017.

While nothing can really be made of the PFF grades the reality is that many in the mainstream media look to PFF as a benchmark for player performance. So even having two finish high is something to at least take note of.