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Jackson Sparks discusses RB Cam Akers as one of the top dynasty fantasy football fallers for 2023 after a disappointing 2022 fantasy season.
Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers was a popular first-round dynasty selection when he was taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Florida State Seminole posted 3,360 yards from scrimmage, caught 69 passes, and scored 34 total touchdowns in three years as a collegiate ball carrier and checked all the boxes athletically.
Akers started to break out in the second half of his rookie campaign in Sean McVay's offense but suffered a torn Achilles in the offseason leading up to his sophomore campaign. He struggled when he returned in the playoffs for the Rams' Super Bowl LVI run, but it was understandable considering he was just around six months removed from his major injury. However, he underperformed again during the 2023 campaign. Now, his dynasty value has taken a hit from last offseason.
In this edition of dynasty risers and fallers, we'll dive into Akers' 2022 season, his dynasty trade value and market, and his 2023 fantasy football outlook.
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2022 Season Review
In Week 1, Akers drafters were already sent into panic mode. Akers handled just three carries and didn't see any targets for a grand total of zero yards and zero fantasy points. Meanwhile, teammate Darrell Henderson logged 18 total touches for 73 yards. All of this happened in the Rams' Thursday night season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
In Weeks 2 and 3, Akers posted more respectable stat lines, but the production was still far from what was expected of him in the preseason. During the two-game stretch, Akers rushed 27 times for 105 yards (3.88 YPC) and one touchdown, catching just two passes for 18 yards. He posted RB32 and RB27 finishes in half-PPR formats. That said, the hope was his usage and production would continue to pick up.
That did not happen. Akers finished as the RB69 and RB62 in Weeks 4 and 5 respectively, totaling 21 carries for 46 yards (2.19 YPC) and zero touchdowns. Again, he failed to be a factor in the receiving game.
After his slim usage, Akers stepped away or was asked to step away from the team and missed two games as a healthy scratch. Leading up to the NFL trade deadline, he was rumored to be on the trade block. There was speculation Akers was unhappy with his role and head coach Sean McVay wasn't happy with the 23-year-old running back, but he ultimately wasn't traded and returned to the team in Week 9.
Weeks 9 through 11 went similarly to his first half of the year, as Akers posted RB69, RB51, and RB34 finishes – averaging 2.9 fantasy points per game. However, Henderson was released after the team's Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints – opening a glimmer of hope for Akers and rookie running back Kyren Williams. After a quiet Week 12 (3.7 fantasy points), Akers was set to become a viable fantasy running back.
Against Seattle in Week 13, Akers rushed 17 times for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Sure, his rushing average was still mediocre, but it was promising to see him earn valuable red zone and goal line touches, and he'd build off the solid RB7 performance. He posted two RB23 finishes with 143 combined yards and a touchdown before posting the first RB1 week of his career on Christmas day in Week 16.
Against Denver, Akers rushed 23 times for 118 yards and three touchdowns, adding two catches for 29 yards for a grand total of 33.7 half-PPR fantasy points. He rounded out his year with two more 20-plus-touch, 100-plus-yard performances, finishing as the RB14 and RB10 in Weeks 17 and 18.
Overall, Akers finished the campaign with 188 carries, 786 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, and 13 receptions for 177 receiving yards. He placed 33rd among running backs in total fantasy points (9.0 FPPG) but ranked as the RB4 in total fantasy points (16.8 FPPG) over the final six weeks of the year.
Cam Akers Dynasty Value/Market
While player valuations are going to vary widely from league to league, KeepTradeCut.com is a helpful resource for getting an idea of what a player's value might be. These crowdsourced rankings have Akers as the dynasty RB28 and the 97th most valuable player or draft pick overall (single-QB leagues). At this time last year (April 14), Akers was valued as the RB17.
Cam Akers Dynasty Value Chart
His place in the rankings puts him adjacent to Khalil Herbert and AJ Dillon, and he's no longer close to being valued similarly to a 2023 first-round rookie pick. If you believe in Akers, now is the time to try to buy him.
2023 Fantasy Football Outlook
In early FFPC draft ADP, Akers is coming off the board at the RB25 spot (68.67 overall). Since the Rams once again don't have a first-round pick (none since 2016) and have big needs on the offensive line and in the pass-catching group – there's a good chance they won't spend an early pick on a running back in the 2023 NFL Draft.
If the team doesn't select a ball carrier within the first three rounds in late April, Akers could be in a high-usage roll once and for all. Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers are the only notable backs on the roster, and both have been unimpressive when called upon. Akers has the highest draft capital of any runner on the team and has seemingly resolved whatever personal issues he had with head coach Sean McVay.
Ultimately, the Rams' offense was a dumpster fire in 2022 with Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp missing most of the season, and its offensive line play was putrid from start to finish. We can't predict the offense to bounce back and look like it did in 2021, but there's nowhere to go but up in 2023. If Akers can command at least a bit over half of the running back opportunities, he should be capable of an RB2 finish next season.
That said, the Rams drafting one of the top running back prospects like Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, or Zach Charbonnet could mean Akers will be nothing more than a part-time back, or even worse – a clear backup and handcuff RB.
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