FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- With the New England Patriots having played on Thursday, we'll kick off the week with a seven-game snapshot of playing time for offensive skill-position players, which helps identify emerging trends and player value:
WIDE RECEIVER
Julian Edelman -- 444 of 494 (89.9 percent)
Brandon LaFell -- 355 of 494 (71.9 percent)
Danny Amendola -- 203 of 494 (41.1 percent)
Kenbrell Thompkins* -- 85 of 494 (17.2 percent)
Aaron Dobson -- 53 of 494 (10.7 percent)
Brian Tyms -- 9 of 494 (1.8 percent)
Quick-hit thoughts: Dobson hasn't made the desired second-year jump, as LaFell has seized the top role opposite Edelman. Meanwhile, Amendola mostly has been used a pure slot option in three-plus receiver sets and with the Patriots running more groupings with multiple tight ends and two backs, his playing time has dipped a bit.
TIGHT END
Rob Gronkowski -- 318 of 494 (64.4 percent)
Michael Hoomanawanui -- 230 of 494 (46.6 percent)
Tim Wright -- 105 of 494 (21.3 percent)
Cameron Fleming -- 43 of 494 (8.7 percent)
Jordan Devey -- 4 of 494 (0.8 percent)
Quick-hit thoughts: Gronkowski has slowly seen his playing time rise as he was eased back into the mix. The following is his seven-game snap progression: 38, 28, 42, 31, 66, 58, 55. As for Wright, he has seen an increase in recent weeks as the Patriots are spreading things out in their two-TE package with him. Wright's seven-game progression: 21, 8, 5, 16, 19, 16, 20. Fleming and Devey are offensive linemen who have been tapped as an eligible receiver to add more of a blocking presence.
RUNNING BACK
Shane Vereen -- 258 of 494 (52.2 percent)
Stevan Ridley** -- 183 of 494 (37.0 percent)
Brandon Bolden -- 43 of 494 (8.7 percent)
James White -- 14 of 494 (2.8 percent)
Jonas Gray -- 12 of 494 (2.4 percent)
Quick-hit thoughts: This is a good example of how Vereen, while often referred to as a change-of-pace type of back, is more than that. He played a season-high 61 snaps in the season-opener and the Patriots will be relying on him even more after losing Ridley to a season-ending knee injury Oct. 12 against the Bills. Gray was used as the top "big back" in his absence Oct. 16, while Bolden could still compete for time in the role.
FULLBACK
James Develin -- 111 of 494 (22.5 percent)
Quick-hit thoughts: His snaps have fluctuated from a high of 27 against the Bengals to a low of eight against the Raiders. Develin has brought a hard-nosed edge to the offense.
QUARTERBACK
Tom Brady -- 482 of 494 (97.6 percent)
Jimmy Garoppolo -- 12 of 494 (2.4 percent)
Quick-hit thoughts: The lone game in which Garoppolo saw time was Sept. 29 in Kansas City, entering when the game was decided in the fourth quarter as the Chiefs had taken control.
* No longer on team
** Season-ending IR