Cam Akers surprisingly came back earlier than expected last season from a torn right Achilles that he suffered last July while training. Akers was supposed to be out for close to a year, but he was able to suit up for the Rams' regular-season finale in January and played during their postseason run. Even though Akers was out there on the field and receiving carries, he did not look like the same running back that we saw in 2020. In four postseason games, the former Florida State running back recorded 172 yards on 67 carries (2.6 ypc), along with eight receptions (10 targets) for 76 yards, prompting some to worry that he'll be a fantasy bust in 2022 despite a lofty consensus ranking.
The Rams -- and fantasy owners -- are hoping that the young running back's performance in the playoffs is not a precursor of what we could see this season. Below, we'll take a look at Akers' fantasy outlook and where he stands in ADP.
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Cam Akers Injury Update: Latest news on Rams' RB
UPDATE: After returning to practice on Aug. 29, Akers was deemed "good to go" for Week 1 by head coach Sean McVay.
The 23-year-old running back did not suffer any setbacks during the offseason, so he should be ready to start and handle a full load in Week 1 against the Bills. With an Achilles' issue, we often don't see players regain their pre-injury stature until they're at least a full season removed from the recovery. Akers will try to buck that trend as he plays in an offense that has playmakers at WR and talent in the backfield.
Last week, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Akers is dealing with a soft-tissue injury, but it is not considered serious. He added that Los Angeles was taking preventative measures by holding Akers out of preseason practices. If this soft-tissue injury isn't serious, we should prepare ourselves for Akers to be the lead running back in Week 1. Throughout the first two years of his career, Akers has only started in five games. As a rookie in 2020, he was splitting carries with Darrell Henderson Jr and Malcolm Brown. Henderson Jr. will be a factor in the Rams' running game again this season, but Akers, who is two years younger, has the higher upside.
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Cam Akers fantasy ranking and ADP
Heading into this season, SN Fantasy has Akers ranked No. 15 among RBs in standard and No. 14 in PPR formats this season. If Akers can play how he did as a rookie in 2020, it will go a long way in validating him as a top-15 running back in fantasy. During that season, Akers led the Rams with 145 carries for 625 yards and two touchdowns. He also was a factor in the passing game with 11 receptions (14 targets) for 123 yards and a touchdown. Obviously, we're all projecting much more from Akers as he takes over as the Rams' lead back.
Last season, we saw Sony Michel have a bounce-back season in Los Angeles with 208 carries for 845 yards and four touchdowns. He also posted five games with 10 or more fantasy points in standard leagues and had five games with 20-plus carries. Darrell Henderson chipped in 688 rushing yards, 176 receiving yards, and eight total TDs, and There's no reason why Akers cannot pick up the bulk of that production, even with Henderson and rookie Kyren Williams also being involved.
Lastly, FantasyPros has Akers' ADP at No. 28 overall and RB15 this season. As we can see, there's a lot of hype surrounding Akers in 2022. He has the skills to be a potential top-15 or top-10 RB in fantasy. However, for Akers to get to that level, he will have to do what Michel did last season but noticeably better. It won't be easy in an offense that is geared more toward the passing game, but a healthy Akers has the all-around talent to get the job done -- we think.
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Cam Akers' fantasy outlook 2022
If Akers can look like the running back that we saw in 2020 and not the one we saw in the playoffs, the Rams and fantasy owners will be in good shape this season. Draft Sharks' exclusive Injury Predictor tool has Akers listed as a "low risk" for injury and only projects him to miss 1.4 games this season.
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The goal for Akers and the Rams is for him to at least get 200 carries this season despite Darrell Henderson Jr. and rookie Kyren Williams likely being in the mix for carries. However, Akers is not a lock to be the team's true No. 1 running back, according to ESPN's Sarah Bishop. Last season, Michel had 208 carries, but the Rams still found a way to give Henderson 149 carries. There also could be more opportunities in the passing game for Akers as the Rams' No. 3 wide receiver Van Jefferson is working his way back from his second knee surgery. Defenses will have their eyes on Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson, and Tyler Higbee, which means someone (Akers) will need to be effective in the receiving game. That's where Akers could really break out and differentiate himself.
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Nevertheless, when it comes to all running backs, health will be the concern. Akers has a noticeable injury report through his first two years in the league, but he'll be playing in a enough of a committee that it should limit the amount of wear and tear he'll pick up. Based on his ADP, Akers is a second/third-round running back in fantasy drafts, and while you're not getting any discounts on him, he could still pay off that price tag given his offense and talent. Don't reach, but don't shy away either.
