The pending retirement of Derrick Mason is still sorting itself out. Coming completely out of nowhere, it's left teammates and fans everywhere wondering if the story is true. After all, Mason has reached the 1,000-yard plateau in seven of his last eight seasons, most of which were marked by erratic QB play. With such consistency, Mason made for an excellent receiver pick in the middle rounds. He says he's 99% sure about the decision, so we can't quite rule out a return this year. If the retirement stands, how does it affect the fantasy stocks of the other Baltimore Ravens? Let's see if we can figure that out. Play Fantasy Football: Sign Up for FREE at Fleaflicker.com
WR Mark Clayton should see the biggest bump in targets. He's a prime breakout candidate, as he's likely to be targeted 120-130 times as the No. 1 option in the passing game. With that kind of action, he should pull in about 70 catches, making a run at 1,000 yards and scoring 6-8 TDs.
WR Demetrius Williams moves into the starting lineup to replace Mason. Physically gifted, Williams hasn't been able to stay healthy long enough to make his mark in the league. He makes for a great pick at the end of the draft, as he should be able to pick up about 50 catches, 800 yards and six TDs if he lasts through the season.
At TE, Todd Heap and L.J. Smith look to be on the decline. Heap is still the Ravens' starter at the position, but even with Mason's retirement, Heap is unlikely to help your fantasy squad. I'd expect him to be around last year's 35-catch, 403-yard campaign in 2009, making him forgettable in your draft.
The player most significantly affected by Mason's retirement is likely to be QB Joe Flacco. Without Mason as a security blanket, I wouldn't count on Flacco taking a step forward this year. Those that were counting on him as a QB2 should look elsewhere.
One more player that needs to be considered is RB Ray Rice. As the running back most involved in the passing game, I'd expect Rice to see way more targets this year as he attempts to replace Mason as the high-percentage target in the offense. I was already high on Rice, but this news raises his stock to new heights. I see him turning in a top-25 season in 2009.
