Derrick Mason Traded from Jets to Texans

The New York Jets have traded wide receiver Derrick Mason to the Houston Texans for an undisclosed, but allegedly very low, NFL draft pick.

The 37-year old Mason had spent eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans (1997-2004) and six seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2005-2010) before lasting just five games with former coach Rex Ryan and the Jets.

Mason's role in the offense had been greatly diminished due to the emergence of TCU rookie speedster Jeremy Kerley. Mason has caught eight passes for 113 yards in five games and now looks to help fill the void left by the injured Andre Johnson.

Johnson underwent surgery to repair his hamstring last week and is expected to miss at least two more games. Jacoby Jones (8 rec., 100 yards) and Kevin Walter (9 rec., 130 yards) are now Matt Schaub's top wide receivers and are sixth and seventh on the team in receiving.

Clearly, Mason will be a welcomed veteran presence for Schaub. He has 937 receptions and 12,006 receiving yards to go with 66 touchdown receptions for his career.

For the short term, Johnson fantasy owners might want to snag Mason off the waiver wire just in case he becomes the focal point of the Texans passing attack (after Owen Daniels and Arian Foster that is).

Meanwhile, Kerley's speed offers a unique skillset to the Jets passing attack. He can do a lot of things (3 rec., 1 rush att., 1 KR, 11 PR, TD so far in 2011) and can be used in a variety of interesting and dynamic ways. With Plaxico Burress as total fantasy crap shoot from week to week, Kerley definitely deserves a watchlist - and maybe a waiver wire add should his role in the offense expand in the near future. Keep a close eye on the rookie receiver.