After five games, Charles Clay has separated himself from mere fill-in status.

Ranked fifth among all AFC tight ends and ninth in the league with 23 catches for 297 yards (seventh most in the NFL) and two receiving touchdowns, Clay suddenly has become a must-have fantasy football player and one of Ryan Tannehill’s favorite targets.

Third on the team in receptions, Clay (6-3, 255 pounds) is on pace to reel in 74 catches for 950 yards, which would shatter the team receiving yardage record for a tight end set by Randy McMichael in 2004 (73 catches for 791 yards). Seven weeks ago when Keller’s knee snapped, nobody saw that coming.

“I think he’s one of the hardest guys to cover on the team,” Tannehill said Tuesday, before the Dolphins went their separate ways and began enjoying their bye week.

“He’s got the speed, he’s got the size, he’s matched up against linebackers and safeties. You put those guys on him, and he’s really tough to cover; we like our matchups there. Even in the [Ravens] game, he had a corner on him when he caught the touchdown. He’s a really explosive, versatile guy that we can get the ball to in a number of different ways.”