Play time: James keeps Gore fresh

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Running back Frank Gore played 87 percent of the snaps in a game last week that was not decided until the final 26 seconds of overtime against the St. Louis Rams.

Offensive coordinator Greg Roman later said Gore's workload was too much.

On Sunday, the 49ers found some rest for Gore by mixing in rookie LaMichael James, who played 15 snaps in the 49ers' 27-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Candlestick Park.

"Our offensive coordinator G-Ro did a great job of putting him in a great situation in what he's used to doing in college," Gore said. "And he kept me fresh."

James carried eight times for 30 yards. He also caught one pass for 15 yards. And he clearly earned the right to move forward as the 49ers' No. 2 running back, replacing Kendall Hunter, who is out for the season with an Achilles injury.

First-round draft pick A.J. Jenkins played eight snaps in the game as the 49ers' third receiver. Jenkins did not see any passes thrown his way. Ted Ginn opened the game in two-receiver sets, along with Michael Crabtree, but he ended up playing only four snaps.

Delanie Walker, the 49ers' No. 2 tight end, and wide receiver Randy Moss saw their greatest share of play time this season with Mario Manningham out with a shoulder injury. Walker played 70 percent of the time, while Moss was on the field for 51 percent of the 49ers' offensive snaps.

Offensive play time
Includes plays nullified by penalty
57 (100 percent) -- LT Joe Staley, RG Alex Boone, RT Anthony Davis, LG Mike Iupati, C Jonathan Goodwin, TE Vernon Davis, QB Colin Kaepernick
43 (75%) -- WR Michael Crabtree
40 (70%) -- TE Delanie Walker
39 (68%) -- RB Frank Gore
29 (51%) -- FB Bruce Miller, WR Randy Moss
15 (26%) -- RB LaMichael James
10 (18%) -- FB Will Tukuafu
8 (14%) -- WR A.J. Jenkins
4 (7%) -- WR Ted Ginn
3 (5%) -- TE Garrett Celek, RB Anthony Dixon, OL Leonard Davis
2 (4%) -- OL Daniel Kilgore

Defensive play time
Includes plays nullified by penalty
61 (100%) -- LB Patrick Willis, S Dashon Goldson, CB Tarell Brown, LB NaVorro Bowman, CB Carlos Rogers, S Donte Whitner
59 (97%) -- OLB Aldon Smith, OLB Ahmad Brooks, DT Ray McDonald
53 (87%) -- DT Justin Smith
43 (70%) -- CB Chris Culliver
15 (25%) -- NT Isaac Sopoaga
8 (13%) -- DT Ricky Jean Francois
3 (5%) -- DT Demarcus Dobbs
2 (3%) -- CB Perrish Cox, OLB Clark Haggans, DT Will Tukuafu

Special teams
15 (62%) -- Will Tukuafu, Tramaine Brock, Darcel McBath
14 (58%) -- Anthony Dixon, C.J. Spillman, Michael Wilhoite
13 (54%) -- Bruce Miller
12 (50%) -- Larry Grant
10 (42%) -- David Akers, Garrett Celek
9 (38%) -- Andy Lee, Brian Jennings
7 (29%) -- Daniel Kilgore, Patrick Willis, Dashon Goldson, Demarcus Dobbs
6 (35%) -- Tavares Gooden
5 (21%) -- Jonathan Goodwin, Joe Staley, Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati, Tarell Brown, Ahmad Brooks, Ray McDonald, Aldon Smith, Chris Culliver, Ricky Jean Francois
4 (17%) -- LaMichael James, Delanie Walker, Leonard Davis, NaVorro Bowman, Perrish Cox
3 (12%) -- Isaac Sopoaga
2 (8%) -- Ted Ginn

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