Cam Akers News

Akers had a falling out with the Rams earlier in the season, but he and the team got back on the same page as the 2020 second-round pick finished the campaign with three consecutive 100-yard performances on the ground. Akers rushed 188 times for 786 yards and seven touchdowns overall, and he could open the 2023 season as the Rams' lead back.

Akers saw backfield mate Malcolm Brown vulture the Rams' only touchdown, but he otherwise continued a highly encouraging stretch of play that's boosting his fantasy stock for 2023. The third-year back now has back-to-back 100-yard performances for the first time in his career, and although his passing game involvement took a slight hit after back-to-back multi-reception efforts in Weeks 15 and 16, Akers still delivered nicely for fantasy managers riding his late-season surge. The 2020 second-round pick will have a solid opportunity to head into the offseason with some momentum against the Seahawks' inconsistent run defense on the road in Week 18.

Akers appeared to be in the holiday spirit after gifting his fantasy managers three scores on Christmas Day. This was easily the 23-year-old's best performance of his career, which is especially impressive considering it came against one of the league's top defenses. Akers started the year in head coach Sean McVay's doghouse, but he has come on strong in recent weeks to rescue a Rams' rushing attack that was on life support. The 2020 second-round pick is averaging 71.3 rushing yards with six total touchdowns in four games since taking over as the team's lead back. Akers can safely be viewed as an RB2 heading into a matchup against the Chargers on Jan. 1.

Akers was about the only bright spot for the Rams' mostly moribund offense, with the third-year back making an impact from his team's very first play. Akers ripped off a 15-yard gain on that initial carry, and he was also responsible for 23 total yards on Los Angeles' third possession, which culminated in the team's first points of the game, a 33-yard Matt Gay field goal. Akers ultimately finished with team highs in both rushing and receiving yards in a game where he saw multiple targets for only the second time all season, and he'll head into a Week 16 home matchup against the Broncos on Christmas Day with a trio of tallies of at least 60 rushing yards in the last five contests.

Akers once again served as the clear-cut lead back over rookie backfield mate Kyren Williams, but he ultimately logged a fairly modest workload overall. Nevertheless, the third-year back crossed the goal line for the third time in the last two games on a one-yard touchdown run with 3:19 remaining, a score that proved critical in the comeback. While the Rams' injury-hampered offensive line isn't likely to open up many running lanes for Akers, he at least appears to have a secure role going into a Week 15 road matchup versus the Packers on Monday night, Dec. 19.

He also caught his only target for zero yards. Rookie Kyren Williams appeared to be on the verge of taking over the lead role in the Rams' backfield last week, but Akers roared back Sunday with a one-yard TD plunge in the first quarter and a six-yard score with just under three minutes left in the fourth that seemed like it might give his team a 23-20 win, before Geno Smith answered back for Seattle. The Los Angeles offense has a limited ceiling with Matthew Stafford (neck), Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Allen Robinson (foot) all on IR and potentially done for the season, but Akers could still have some fantasy value in Week 14 against the Raiders if he continues to fend off Williams.