by John Dent

There are three things that happen each August. Helicopters hover over Hattiesburg, Mississippi waiting for Brett Favre to announce his decision of whether he will play or retire. Fans of every NFL team believe that this year is "the year". And Derrick Mason is undervalued in Fantasy Football Drafts.

From a non-fantasy point of view, it's easy to see why Mason isn't fully appreciated. He doesn't draw a lot of attention to himself (compared to other WR's); he hasn't had a 100 catch season, and hasn't played on a Super Bowl winning team. Mason is truly a player that is most fully appreciated when watching him play week in and week out. It is then that you begin to appreciate his craftiness, toughness, and all around skills.

Mason has consistently been the kind of player that is a great value in the money rounds (5th-7th). Great production at a lower price. He may not have the kind of name that makes people say "Championship!" after they draft him, but you'll almost always hear other owners say "Nice Pick!" when  you do.

Mason has been remarkably consistent in his career, finishing in the top 25 in WR rankings 7 of the last 8 years. His lone miss was in 2006, an otherwise solid season that result in just 2 TD receptions (The Ravens finished with just 19 TD passes overall).

At the time of this writing, Mason is going off the board at WR#43 in 12 owner leagues (data care of fantasyfootballcalculator.com). He is currently behind such luminaries as Demaryius Thomas (who has yet to play an NFL game), Kenny Britt, Eddie Royal, Julian Edelman, and a player facing a 4 game suspension - Santonio Holmes.

Some point the reason why Mason has slipped down the rankings to the fact the Ravens acquired Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth in the off-season, and that Mason is 36 years old.

Let's address both issues.

If anything, the additions of Boldin and Stallworth help Mason. Boldin's strength is working the middle of the field, an asset that the Ravens offense has not had in some time. Contrary to what some misguided callers to Baltimore area sports talk shows believed, Mason was not double covered on every play last season. The trouble was is that the Ravens had no one to consistently work the middle of the field. Todd Heap is well past his prime, and while still serviceable, he is not a major threat over the middle. Defenses did not need to concentrate on this part of the field while facing the Ravens; anyone who watched last season's Sunday Night Football game vs. Pittsburgh could see that. By the end of the season, the Ravens chief method of working this area was passes to RB Ray Rice coming out of the backfield. Having Boldin work the middle of the field will free up Mason on the outside to run outs and stop and go's.

Stallworth was strictly brought in as a speed guy. His role will be to stretch the field. This is another facet of the passing game the Ravens has not had in an exceptional way. Last year's WR's besides Mason were Mark Clayton, who is basically a mini-me version of Mason, Kelley Washington, who the Ravens grabbed off the scrap heap, and Demetrius Williams, who was the Ravens most natural deep threat, but a bit of an enigma who has not been able to put it all together since showing flashes in 2006.

Adding Boldin and Stallworth (as well as TE's Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta through the draft), help Mason as these players strengths compliment Mason's.

Yes, Mason is 36 years old. There is no getting around that. However, his game has always been more about craftiness and route running then speed and size. He has shown no signs of slowing down, and I do not expect the wheels to suddenly come off the cart in 2010. Moving to the #2 WR helps him at this point of his career, as he will be often matched up against CB2's.

Finally, don't count out the fact that Mason and QB Joe Flacco have worked together for two years. Flacco trusts Mason (although I am sure that he will quickly trust a player of Boldin's ability!), and more importantly, he knows where he will be on every play. Don't discount familiarity and rapport.

Flacco is poised to make the next step as a QB. Flacco has performed admirably in his first two seasons. He is able to make all the throws and has a quick release. While some growing pains existed in 2010 -- a few untimely miscues including a late interception against Indianapolis -- he clearly showed improvement from his first year to second. He was on a pace for 4000 yards and 24 TD's through the first 8 games of the 2009 campaign. His numbers diminished in the second half due to a renewed focus on the running game and injuries to his hip, ankle and shoulder. Despite this, his completion percentage went up, and his ratio of TD/Int improved from 08 to 09. Add the improved weapons at WR and TE and one of the best all purpose RB's in the league at his disposal, all while playing behind one of the better offensive lines in the league, and 2010 looks bright for Flacco. His numbers will be elevated and he'll bring Mason's up along with him.

Derrick Mason going as the #43 WR off the board is a crime. Let others sleep on him, but not you; Mason is the solid, smart pick that wins fantasy football championships.

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