Michael Silver interviewed Fisher (maybe ESPN coverage, not sure if day two or three?). He gave props to the position group (as he should), but when he talked about Gurley, his eyes lit up, and he talked about how he was special, and was a once-per-decade RB. He didn't say Mason was special. Even last year, he never said anything like that about Mason.
People can think what they want, and are welcome to their opinion, but there is no question Fisher sees Gurley very differently than Mason, that the intention is for him to a become a franchise, feature, bellcow back. They are saying he will be brought along slowly, they want to be patient and not rush him into a setback or reinjury. So he is a much better dynasty than redraft play. My main interest is dynasty.
Starting in 2016, if healthy, I don't see Gurley splitting carries with Mason. If he averages something like 15-20 carries, and Mason 8-12, and that is a RBBC, than it is one in which Gurley's workload could be indistinguishable from a feature RB, and Mason more like that of a complementary, lesser RBBC role.
If Gurley doesn't become a star and have stats commensurate with that, it won't be because of workload or Tre Mason got in his way. He looks like the best RB since Peterson to me. Not because I read it somewhere, or heard Kiper say it, or because of groupthink. But because that is what I think based on what I see.
* Another concern in the thread is OL. But again, that is probably a bigger concern in redraft than dynasty. There might be better reasons to downgrade him in redraft, like rehabbing a torn ACL. But in dynasty, they could have another year's worth of free agency and another draft.
The OL is very untested. Robinson has about a dozen starts, and is very raw in pass pro. But as a run blocker, he was drafted 1.2 overall, helped Mason break some of Bo Jackson's record at Auburn, is fast and light on his feet for a such a huge Kodiak Bear-sized human, and has a lot of potential with a few years in the league (which he'll have by 2016). Saffold was an OK OT that played even better and pretty well at guard in 2013, leading them to re-sign him (after OAK backed out on the shoulder failing their physical grounds). They lost 60% of their OL. Barrett Jones could be the starting center, a fourth rounder from 2013 who played every position on the line at Alabama, and won the Outland Trophy. He entered the league with a foot injury, they wanted him to physically mature and develop, get bigger and stronger and they had Wells the last three years (he was hurt a lot in '12 and '13, but not '14). He reportedly is bigger and stronger, if healthy, he reportedly has impressive football smarts. Jones could possibly play guard, as could other prospective centers, 2014 late rounder Demetrius Rhaney, and re-signed vet Barnes.
That leaves one guard opening (Saffold played LG last year, but may be more comfortable and better at RG) and RT (Fisher has already said Robinson will be the LT). Reynolds is a free agent swing tackle with multi-positional versatilty at G as well as OT, who played better at the former in ATL in 2013 than at the latter in DET last year. He has connections with GM Snead and the Rams OL position coach from ATL. Joe Barksdale could be re-signed, but that seems increasingly unlikely. They reportedly have interest in former Falcon G Blalock, no idea if it is mutual.
Than there is a cast of thousands from the draft. Second rounder Havenstein was called by Mayock a third round grade that should have moved up somewhat based on his Senior Bowl. Besides Melvin Gordon, he was the only other invitee from Wisconsin, after a school record 320 rushing yards per game in 2014. He will probably be the starting RT, though last year, Robinson didn't start for the first month. Third rounder Jamon Brown (played OT at Louisville) could be the early favorite to start at guard oppsite Saffold, but again, maybe not immediately. They are both powerful run blockers. They also took a fourth round OL that has played every position but center, I think, and was a teammate of Scherff at Iowa. The Rams like OL with versatility in general, and converting OTs to G, specifically (a future OL of Robinson - Brown - Jones - Saffold - Havenstein would be comprised of 5 OTs, sub in OT/G Reynolds at RT or guard, and it is still 5 OTs). He played RT last year, and could remain there, or be converted, possibly depending on Brown and the sixth round G from Fresno St. Three of the four rookies are at least 6'6" (Brown is the "short" one at 6'4"), and have been described by the media as road grading maulers.
They may only start one rookie on the OL this year, or at least to begin the season. Whether one or two, they are going to have some questions about pass pro until they answer them. The Rams have a two TE base set, and Lance Kendrick was re-signed (I think in the top 5 highest paid Rams?), he is appreciated for his versatilty and blocking ability, and could help Havenstein in pass pro. But both Havenstein and Brown could be functional firing out as run blockers. Brown might not have the feet, lateral agility and movement skills to play OT in the NFL, but at G, in a phone booth, short spaces and areas, maybe he can play to his strengths better.