99, low RPM problems, MAF sensor?

Thanks for taking the time to read

99 Altima, about 125K, has basically lost all low end power. Car seems like it is gasping for air, even when in neutral. Ocassionaly shuts off even on highway. When gas is pressed all the way, it gasps its way into midrange (even if in neutral and no laod) , and then pulls hard at seemingly full power. Shop around the corner says MAF (air flow sensor) is bad. $300 for parts and labor, $70 if I do it myself. But does it sound like MAF is the problem?

First what i would do is gete some air filter cleaner and spray it on the inside of the sensor to free the pin of any dirt. it could quite possibly just be a dirty mass air flow sensor. I also had that problem it turned out to be a vaccumm leak. Run you had over all rubb hoses toward the back center of your motor about a foot left of the MAF and try to see if there is a "sucking" feeling from on of your hoses. It also quite possibly could be a INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET problem and how that im thinking of it, I believe thats the case. Is the Check engine light on?