Cam Akers

Akers is talented enough to suffice as a lead runner, and at times he has been exactly that. The Rams intended to make a starter out of him when they took him in the second round of the 2020 draft, and the team appeared committed to him when he rushed back from a summer Achilles tear in 2021 to suit up for the playoffs. It was bizarre to see that change at the beginning of 2022, when the Rams started Darrell Henderson the first five weeks. This understandably upset Akers, who demanded a trade and even looked like he might be released while sitting out the next three games. The Rams continued to waste time with Henderson and even the likes of Malcolm Brown, Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers even after Akers returned to the team Week 9, but Sean McVay finally came to his senses and went back to Akers as the main back from Week 13 onward. To the coach's credit, the Rams fed Akers well those final six weeks, a span in which he ran for 549 yards (5.3 YPC) and six touchdowns. The 24-year-old should be the lead runner again in 2023 after the Rams settled for sixth-round pick Zach Evans as their offseason addition, but potential complications include the history of conflict with McVay and the quality of players surrounding him after a rough offseason for the Rams.

A torn Achilles tendon suffered while working out last summer appeared as though it would cost Akers the entire year, but he made a semi-miraculous return by the final week of the regular season and mostly handled the lead role in the Rams backfield during the postseason. Prior to the injury, Akers had been a top breakout candidate, after closing out his rookie year with 221 rushing yards and two TDs in two playoff games. There was no sign of that form when the 2020 second-round pick returned from his Achilles tear for last season's playoffs, as he averaged 2.6 yards on 67 carries without a single run of more than 15 yards. Further complicating the picture, Henderson used his extra opportunities last year to establish himself as a useful option in the Los Angeles offense when he was able to stay healthy alongside Sony Michel. While Michel is now out of the picture, Henderson lingers as a threat to poach both carries and targets, with fifth-round rookie Kyren Williams a dark horse to get involved if Akers really struggles to regain the form he displayed at the end of his own rookie year.

It took until Week 12 for Akers to seize the lead role in the Rams backfield last year. After doing little with 14 carries in Week 1, the rookie took a back seat to Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson the next couple months, never seeing more than 10 touches or 20 offensive snaps in a game. When Akers turned nine carries into 84 yards and a TD against the 49ers in late November, coach Sean McVay finally handed him the reins and the second-round pick never looked back. A powerful runner with a three-down skill set, Akers has 4.47 speed to turn a small crease into a big gain, and he showed it last season with runs of 61, 46, 35 and 25 yards. He finished with a modest 4.3 YPC despite the quartet of long gains, but any inconsistency seemed to be hammered out by season's end, as Akers ran for 221 yards and two TDs in two playoff games. As the 2021 campaign approached, Akers was headed toward a true featured role, but a torn Achilles' that he suffered in July derailed that outcome.

Akers was essentially a one-man show in a moribund Florida State offense during his college career, but that experience may have prepared him well for a three-down role in the pros. A strong, compact runner at 5-10, 217, with the power to be an asset in short-yardage situations, Akers ran a 4.47 40 at the combine, showing he can be more than just a grinder. His good vision makes him dangerous in the open field, though he seems to prefer running through tacklers rather than slipping by them. Akers is also a capable receiver, catching 30 of 42 targets for 225 yards and four scores last season. With Todd Gurley off to Atlanta, Akers has an opportunity to make an immediate impact. A backfield committee wouldn't be surprising, though, with holdovers Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown also looking for touches. But of the trio, Akers' skill set makes him the most likely to secure a true lead role.