St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher has never kept his offensive strategy a secret. He wants to run the ball. He wants to wear down opponents with a vicious ground-and-pound attack. Sweet and simple.
That game plan bodes well for second-year rusher Tre Mason who wrestled the starting job from Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham last year. Yes, Fisher can be a bit fickle with his running backs. But fantasy owners should feel confident that Mason is the primary option in what could be an improved offense in 2015.
"A crowded backfield in St. Louis eventually sorted itself out in 2014, as Mason emerged as the go-to player down the stretch, leading the team with 765 yards in 12 games played," ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates wrote in his list of breakout candidates. "'He has good vision and patience, good feet quickness and burst through the hole, good contact balance and will earn extra yards because of his toughness and keeping his feet moving until he is taken to the ground,' said on NFL personnel man of Mason."
The only problem is that Fisher has a long history of drafting running backs. In fact, St. Louis has done so in each of the past three drafts. Remember, everyone was high on Stacy until the Rams selected Mason in the third-round. The team may be saying all the right things regarding his job security, but what's to stop Fisher from drafting yet another ball carrier?
For starters, Mason's numbers separate him from Stacy's situation. The former Auburn star averaged 4.3 yards per carry and totaled five touchdowns in three-quarters of a season. Stacy averaged 3.9 yards per carry over the last two seasons and scored just once last year. Mason's best run was an 89-yard scamper. Stacy longest career carry is 40-yards.
Mason is clearly the more explosive running back, lessening the need for another rusher.
