Anyone still aboard the Cam Akers train got a glimmer of hope after he scored twice and served as the primary back for the Rams in their Week 13 bout with the Seahawks. His 72% snap share beat his previous season-high of 50 in Week 3 and relegated Kyren Williams to a passing-down role.
Akers finished the week as an RB1, but 12 of his 19 PPR points were from touchdowns. With only 3.5 yards per carry and no yards on his only reception, Akers’ 60 total yards parallels the Rams’ offensive struggles all year, even against sub-par defenses.
The Rams’ offensive line has performed at or near the bottom of the league all season, highlighted by their 31st ranking by PFF heading into Week 14. With right tackle Rob Havenstein as the only reliable lineman, he can’t hold off Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, who has 19 pressures the past two weeks, on Thursday Night Football.
So, even though the Raiders are a relatively weak defense against the run, expectations should be tempered. Rushing production against Vegas isn’t a given as of late, having only allowed 2.8 and 3.3 YPC against the Seahawks and Chargers, respectively.
And while L.A. has brought in another No. 1 draft pick at quarterback with the claiming of Baker Mayfield on waivers, this shouldn’t significantly help a Rams team that has a depleted receiving core on top of their offensive line issues.
Cam shows up as the RB22 on Wolf’s Week 14 Rankings, which seems like a safe bet, and maybe even a little high. He is certainly volume-dependent and without the touchdowns, Akers would’ve been an RB3/4 last week.
For his rest of season outlook, he checks in at RB35. Sure, he could be a decent RB3 or flex option moving forward, but he’s not someone I plan to hitch my fantasy playoffs wagon to for the remainder of the season.
