Tre Mason Is a Dangerous Fantasy Football Option in Crowded St. Louis Backfield

Fantasy football owners ran to the waiver wire in Week 8 to pick up St. Louis Rams running back Tre Mason, but the expectations for the rookie must be lowered as he is still dealing with a crowded backfield.

Mason has played well over the last two weeks against two of the toughest defenses in the NFL. After racking up 40 yards on five carries against the San Francisco 49ers, Mason was a huge part of the Rams' victory over the Seattle Seahawks, running the ball 18 times for 85 yards and a touchdown.

During the win over the Seahawks, former starting running back Zac Stacy did not have a carry or reception, and backup Benny Cunningham only had two carries. Cunningham had five receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown, though.

Stacy has been dealing with an ankle injury, and St. Louis has been playing it safe while he recovers. Add in the team’s philosophy on riding with the running back playing best at that moment, and it’s clear Mason’s workload may be inconsistent.

When asked about the workload for Stacy and the depth at running back, head coach Jeff Fisher told Larry Hartstein of CBSSports.com:

"

It'll be a week-to-week thing. Zac could get 25 carries this week. We had some things in early this week. It was working so we decided to stay with 'Mase.' It's nothing that Zac has done or hasn't done. He's been a little banged up the last couple of weeks, but obviously he's an outstanding runner as well. We clearly have significant depth there at the position.

"

For the owners who believed Mason was their saving grace, it could be a very frustrating stretch.

The big game against Seattle has likely earned Mason a larger workload initially, but St. Louis will continue giving the player running the strongest the chance to carry the ball at the end of the game. Whether it’s Mason, Stacy or Cunningham, Fisher and his coaching staff will ride with whoever is running well at that moment.

That inconsistency will drive fantasy owners mad. While there is no doubt that the explosiveness and elusiveness shown by Mason will make him worth adding to any fantasy bench, owners should watch how he is used in Week 8 against Kansas City before plugging him into the starting lineup.

With Stacy running for his job and Cunningham still the lead passing-down back, there is a chance Mason sees fewer carries this week. Fantasy owners must be patient. Mason is clearly the best all-around running back on the roster, and it’s just a matter of time before Mason locks the starting job up for good.

Owners who made the educated risk and picked Mason up now will likely reap the rewards further down the line. Stacy should get a healthy dosage of carries Sunday, but Mason looks to be the future of the Rams backfield.

*Stats via NFL.com.

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