Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Tre Mason rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his final two seasons at Auburn, including a 2013 season where he rushed for a school-record 1,816 yards with 23 rushing touchdowns on his way to being a Heisman Trophy finalist . The St. Louis Rams took Mason in the third round (75th overall) of May’s draft, and he is the front runner to be Zac Stacy’s primary backup as a rookie.
Positives
Mason is a naturally gifted runner, and he was at his best late last season with over 100 yards on the ground in each of the final six games (1,063 total rushing yards, 663 over the final three games against Alabama, Missouri and Florida State).
Mason said he was told by the Rams’ coaching staff that he’ll compete for the starting job. Even if that sounds like a big reach with Stacy proving capable of being a workhorse last year, Mason seems to be fairly confident in his ability.
Negatives
Mason was not very productive as a pass catcher during his collegiate career, with just 19 receptions over the last two seasons. He is undersized (5’8″, 207 lbs.), which creates durability concerns, and a pre-draft report he may need wrist surgery qualifies as a red flag.
Draft evaluators considered pass protection to be one of Mason’s biggest weaknesses, so he’ll have to improve that area of his game to have any chance to actually push Stacy for the starting job.
Final Verdict
Mason should be able to beat out Benny Cunningham and Isaiah Pead for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but he will only be draftable in deep re-draft leagues as a handcuff to Stacy this year. I do think Mason is an intriguing (and perhaps under the radar) stash in dynasty leagues, so owners in that format should have him on their radar immediately.
Bye Week: Week 4
Projected Round: 11th or 12th Round
Auction Value: $2 (ESPN.com)
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter or connect on Google +.
