Cam Akers RB1 SZN ended before it began when the second-year back tore his right Achilles’ tendon in July before training camp. Although Sean McVay made Akers’ fantasy managers wait until the 2020 stretch run to fully unleash the talented beast, Akers finished as the team’s leading rusher and dominated from Week 13 on, seeing over 20 carries per game during that time.
But after a miraculous six-month recovery, Akers somehow returned to action in Week 18 against the 49ers. While the running back only mustered three yards on five carries and 10 receiving yards on three receptions, it was still incredible to see him flourish on the football field.
Then, Monday night happened.
Akers edged Sony Michel with 17 carries and finished with 55 rushing yards. He also added another 40 yards receiving on a bomb from Odell Beckham Jr. All-in-all, Akers finished with 95 total yards on 18 touches.
In order words, he’s back.
“Just blessed, man,” Akers said after the game. “Being able to come off an injury like that, you know, five-and-a-half months after surgery. Nobody has done that. Just to be able to be in that category, first player to do that, feels good.”
What was even more impressive was the way he looked with the ball in his hands. He was as electric as ever and maybe even quicker and faster than he was prior to the injury. He also ran with extreme confidence and physicality — which was evident during his car crash with Budda Baker.
“It’s unbelievable,” Sean McVay said of Akers. “I don’t think the stats tell the story for how good he looked. … Also, thoughts and prayers to Budda Baker. I got tremendous respect for him. I’m hopeful that he’s going to be OK, but I thought Cam was outstanding. He did a great job and he’s only getting more and more confident.”
After the team ran the ball 38 times for 140 yards against the Cardinals, it’s clear McVay wants to lean on his ground game to protect Matthew Stafford during their playoff run. It will be another test for Akers next week against the Bucs’ ferocious front seven.
“I knew it was part of the game plan,” Akers added. “We were going to run the ball a lot, lean on the running backs a lot.”
With Michel heading to free agency and Darrell Henderson unable to stay healthy, Akers will assume workhorse duties next season. The Wolf has Akers ranked RB13 on his 2022 Fantasy Football Rankings & Big Board, four spots higher than the ECR.
