Anthony Fasano is rarely mentioned among the game-breaking tight ends in the NFL like Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, Vernon Davis or Jason Witten, whom he broke in with at Dallas before joining the Dolphins in 2008.
Fasano may not be a seam-breaking, acrobatic tight end or a red-zone monster. He probably won't make "SportsCenter's" top 10 plays, or even take a Pro Bowl trip to Hawaii.
None of that fazes the consistent, seven-year pro out of Notre Dame, whose all-around skills, including run- and pass-blocking, has him ranked eighth among tight ends by Pro Football Focus, a statistic-heavy website that breaks down every snap.
"I think being consistent helps your team win and that's my job, to help my team within my role,'' said Fasano, who has 22 catches for 176 yards with two touchdowns and no drops. "Even if my stats aren't through the roof, that's the most important thing.
"It's nice to be in the stat book or highlight reel now and then, but I care more about if the coaches and players in this locker room see value in me.''