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WR Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens

HT: 5-11, WT: 193, Born: 1-17-1974, College: Michigan State, Drafted: Round 4

2008 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of June 28th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: R Brown (104), Derrick Mason (105), J Porter (106), A Rodgers (107)
Position: P Crayton (100-WR37), R Brown (104-WR38), Derrick Mason (105 - WR39), J Porter (106-WR40), S Rice (110-WR41)
Click here for a comparison of these players.

Best Case

Optimally, Derrick Mason would repeat his 2007 career high target and reception production while increasing his receiving TDs and YPC. That kind of production could push him near or into the top-12 for fantasy receivers. To do that, he will need better play from the quarterback position. He will also need Todd Heap commanding the middle of the field and bringing over safety help. That would leave Mason in more one-on-one coverage. Congruently, Mason would need inconsistent play from his fellow receivers. For Mason to have an even bigger fantasy impact than 2007, he will need to once again be his quarterback's primary receiving option, yet see fewer double teams.

Worst Case

Mason is likely to be a heavily utilized resource in the passing game. He developed a good rapport with Kyle Boller. A rookie like Joe Flacco would want to rely on his only veteran receiver. So, barring injury, Mason will have some worth regardless of what happens in Baltimore this year. That said, look at Mason's 2006 finish as his downside. That year, he was targeted over 100 times, yet ended up with only two receiving TDs and a No. 49 positional ranking. Coincidentally, that was the year Mark Clayton exploded on the scene and Todd Heap finished as the No. 3 fantasy TE. If the younger receivers blossom (specifically Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams), Mason could find his role in the offense as questionable as it was prior to the 2007 season. Other receivers having big roles in the Ravens' passing game is a bad sign for Mason's fantasy numbers.

Outlook

Mason has completed five consecutive 16-game seasons and has missed only six games in his career. So, if you draft Mason, you should be able to pencil him in as available every game of your fantasy season except the Ravens' bye week. With Heap's return, a solid running game and the team's need to develop its youth at QB and WR, expect Mason's target numbers to dip a this year. That should create a corresponding drop in fantasy production in most leagues. The exception is PPR leagues, where Mason could continue to be a reception machine.

Relevant Articles

Why he is undervalued

Marc Levin - Derrick Mason is as safe a selection as it gets at WR38. Outside of an extremely disappointing 2006 season, he has finished in the top-25 every year since 2001. He finished as the #20 WR despite one of the most anemic Ravens passing games of all time. That passing game has nowhere to go but up, so another top-25 finish should be expected.

Jason Wood - Derrick Mason caught 103 passes last year - marking the 6th time in 7 seasons he's gone over the 1,000-yard mark. While his friend and long-time teammate Steve McNair has retired, there's nothing to suggest Mason isn't the Ravens best receiver. With proven OC Cam Cameron now in control, Mason will see plenty of targets regardless of who is under center.

David Yudkin - Mason ranked 20th last year and this season the Ravens are implementing a less conservative offense. He's ranked 26th or better in seven of the last eight seasons. The Ravens are intent on bolstering the offense by installing a base three-receiver scheme. With a new system and more assertive play calling, Mason will again be underrated.

2008 Schedule

2007 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Mason was McNair's favorite receiver. He was targeted three times in the first Ravens drive, which set the tone for the game. On his only red zone look (from Kyle Boller), Mason came up with a clutch 14 yard grab on fourth down that set up a first and goal with less than four minutes remaining in the game. While Mason has some upside in PPR leagues, he is primarily a possession receiver.

Week 2 - Mason was Boller's security blanket in the first half, in which he received ten of his 11 looks for the game. He showed very good hands and at times very nimble moves as he worked various quick patterns for short gains. Mason's longest catch of the game was 12 yards, but his true value lied in his dependable catches that moved the ball and the chains. He made a few exceptional plays, including a nice snag while falling down and an open field move that made a Baltimore defender completely whiff. Mason was only targeted once in the second half, although the game situation (Baltimore had a comfortable lead) dictated having only 11 passes attempted in the second half, compared to 24 in the first.

Week 3 - Mason was heavily targeted throughout the game, and was the primary focus of McNair during his three quarters of work. Mason mostly worked short and medium length routes and finished with 79 receiving yards while having a long of 18. He scored Baltimore's lone offensive touchdown on a 13 yard pass from McNair in the second quarter.

Week 4 - Mason became McNair's go to receiver late in the game when the Ravens were trying to play catch up. For the first half of the game, Mason was a non-issue and was targeted only four times. While not showing break-away speed or being a deep pass threat, Mason did go over the middle for some tough catches in the second half.

Week 5 - Mason caught 11 passes for 85 yards, while being targeted a total of 13 times. His line looks impressive, but none of the throws by McNair to him were more than ten yards down the field. Mason showcased his precise route running, especially over the middle, and is definitely McNair's favorite target. Mason was targeted deep once down the left side in very tight coverage, and was able to draw a defensive pass interference penalty, which later setup one of the Ravens field goals. He converted five first downs, the most important coming late in the fourth quarter, icing the game for the Ravens.

Week 6 - Mason was a pivotal part of the Ravens success on offense. He was especially impressive running after the catch, as his three first down catches were all in the twenty yard range (23, 28, 19), though in each case he caught the ball for around a ten yard gain. He was Boller's favorite target early on, and probably would have continued to be so, had the Ravens needed to pass more in the second half.

Week 7 - Mason led the NFL with 49 receptions coming into the game. He was targeted a game high 12 times and added seven more receptions to his total. Mason caught a 15 yard touchdown pass in heavy traffic. He also hauled in a perfectly thrown pass from Boller for 27 yards. On the play, Mason initially bobbled the pass, but gained control and concentrated to hold on, despite taking a vicious hit. Mason almost made a nice catch on a high pass from Boller early in the game. He was able to get one hand on the ball, but couldn't quite reel it in.

Week 9 - Mason was QB Steve McNair's main target in the first half, but it only netted him five catches for 27 yards in the first half because the Ravens could not complete pass longer then nine yards and sustain drives. He would only catch one more pass for eight yards in the second half.

Week 10 - The leading receiver on the season for the Baltimore Ravens was held in check by the Cincinnati Bengals defense. Mason posted four catches for 29 yards as the Ravens offense continues to struggle under Brian Billick.

Week 11 - Mason was a true bright spot for the Ravens. While he had no catches in the first half, he came back to make six catches in the second half for 83 yards. He was Kyle Boller's first look in the passing game, and while he didn't have any major highlight reel catches, he was the most reliable target in the passing game. His presence was felt the most during the first drive of the second half, where he caught all three passes of the drive and helped Kyle Boller and the rest of the Ravens offense find a rhythm.

Week 12 - Mason was Boller's security blanket. He had nine more targets than any other Ravens player. Most of his catches went for medium gains, as he finished with a 14.1 yards per catch average. Mason finished just one yard shy of a 100 yard receiving game. It was Mason's best yardage total of the season.

Week 13 - Mason was the typical possession wide receiver, making a bunch of tough catches in the middle of the field, including a touchdown in between three defenders. He ended up catching six of the eight balls thrown his way.

Week 14 - Mason finished second to Mark Clayton in targets, but only managed to haul in half of the balls thrown in way for a total of 30 receiving yards.

Week 15 - Mason tied for the team lead in targets and receptions. He had the long receiving touchdown for the Ravens, hauling in a 17 yard score in the second quarter off the arm of Kyle Boller.

Week 16 - Mason led the team in targets and receptions. He had the lone touchdown for the Ravens, hauling in a 79 yard score in garbage time when he managed to get behind the entire Seahawks defense.

Week 17 - Mason was a key target for Troy Smith. Mason made a beautiful catch late in the game on third and eight in which he managed to get both feet on the ground before stumbling out of bounds. The ball appeared to be picked off by DB Ike Taylor but Mason hauled it in for a key first down which helped to eat up some valuable clock time.