On the heel of the massive Charity-based Scott Fish Bowl 11’s drafts, RB Cam Akers was selected by many as RB1 and RB2. Then the fantasy world was turned upside down today as the news broke that Akers, the 2nd year star that led the Rams’ backfield last season with 145 carries for 625 yards and an additional 123 yards receiving on 14 targets was injured and is out for the entire 2021 season. Prior to today, he had been discussed as a top 10 RB for 2021 in the new Stafford-led offense. Akers was working out off-site preparing for the upcoming training camps when the horrible injury occurred. Achilles’ tendon injuries are brutal and are hard to bounce back from, but the good news is that Akers is young.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat does this mean for the Rams organization, and who will be their starting rusher? The obvious guess is that Darrell Henderson will take over as RB1, who last season played in 15 games with 624 yards, five touchdowns, and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. So, he is not a player to overlook by any means, but coming off injuries of his own surely points to free agents or backup RBs on the trading block coming into the mix. Todd Gurley, Sony Michel, Adrian Peterson, and Le’Veon Bell are a few names that have been circling immediately following the news.
Gurley is a former Ram and knows the McVay scheme, but do they really want to go back to a player they already cut ties with, or would they rather take their chances on a player that has proven himself time and time again like AP to be the back up to Henderson? Or do they decide to not bring anyone in until after training camp and see if 2nd year undrafted Xavier Jones out of SMU can move into the role of RB2 behind Henderson?
In his tenure at SMU, Jones had two 1,000-rushing yard seasons and ended with 23 touchdowns in 2019 before he entered the draft. He has the potential to shine with his 208lb frame which tends to shake tackles and bulldoze into the endzone.
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We also cannot overlook 7th round rookie Jake Funk who at Maryland rushed for 516 yards in 2020 and had 8.6 yards per carry. He could be the sleeper pick to become RB3 and help elevate the Rams’ backfield.
Basically, the Rams have around 7 million in cap space that they could use to sign a veteran like AP or Gurley to help with 3rd downs and goal-line touches and let Henderson still be RB1 with focus in the receiving game, but time will tell. Honestly, I think that with a one-two punch of Henderson and Jones and then the caboose of Funk, the Rams can be ok. However, I think we won’t know anything until after training camp plays out to see who steps up, and if they don’t then who will the Rams call to join their organization…maybe for the second time.
My prayers are with Akers as he navigates these injury waters in only his second year in the league with hopes that he bounces back stronger than ever!
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