Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Rams are on an upswing. The defense has stepped up while the offense is still putting the pieces together. The team had running back Zac Stacy breakout from the shadows. However, the team drafted Tre Mason in the fourth round as Stacy’s backup. He should be selected as a handcuff and late-round depth-chart filler.
Stacy was very limited in the first four weeks of the season. He beat out teammates Benny Cunningham, Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead as the starter for the remainder of the season. He finished with 250 carries, 973 yards and seven touchdowns. He is the clear-cut No. 1 back for the Rams entering the 2014 season.
Mason was a beast for the Auburn Tigers. In three seasons, he had 516 carries for 2,979 yards and 32 touchdowns. He had a ridiculous junior year with 317 carries for 1,816 yards and 23 scores. While he won’t reach anywhere close to those numbers, he is a nice pickup for the Rams.
Stacy is the workhorse for the Rams. He can get close to 300 carries this season. Mason will have a prominent role as a third-down, change-of-pace back to keep Stacy healthy.
Mason should be drafted by any owner who plans on drafting Stacy. Mason could also be selected in the later rounds in standard leagues. If Stacy should go down with an injury, Mason will immediately fill in as the starter. As long as he beats out Cunningham and Pead, Mason will have fantasy value in deeper leagues. In dynasty and keeper leagues, Mason is a mid-round selection and is a top-20 pick in rookie-only drafts.
Mason could see close to 50 carries for 250-300 yards with a couple of touchd0wns in 2014.
Bill Pivetz is a fantasy sports writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @BPiv_Sports.
