Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers should not be started in this Sunday's divisional tilt against the visiting Green Bay Packers. The 25-year-old's workload has mostly been contingent on game script and the health of backfield mate Aaron Jones in 2024. Akers had gotten some extended run when Jones was dinged up or the game was safely at hand. However, this season, he's been less effective with a larger rush share. Since his move to Minnesota, the Florida State product has yet to run for more than 2.9 yards per carry when he receives ten or more attempts. This starkly contrasts the 6.68 he's averaged over the other 19 carries. The Vikings' meeting with Green Bay projects to be a good one, as both teams are vying for playoff spots -- so Akers does not figure to see an increase in workload unless Jones misses snaps or is loose with the football. He comes in as RotoBaller's PPR RB52 ahead of this week's slate of action.
Dec 28, 2024 4:39 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers remains strictly a handcuff option for this Sunday's road clash with the Seattle Seahawks. Akers scored a touchdown on ten carries (his most in a game since Week 11), rushing for 24 yards in last weekend's 30-12 rout of the Bears. Still, he picked up most of his work on the Vikings' final few drives and was inefficient with his touches. The 25-year-old hasn't garnered a target since Week 12 and hasn't played more than 32% of snaps since joining the team. With lead-back Aaron Jones dominating backfield touches, the Florida State product will not be a recommended option in Week 16. Akers comes in as RotoBaller's PPR RB48 in this week's rankings.
Dec 20, 2024 5:48 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers rushed 10 times for 24 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's 30-12 win over the Chicago Bears. He was not targeted in the passing game. The former Florida State Seminole didn't see his first touch until the second quarter -- garnering three on that drive -- and did most of his work with the game comfortably in hand. Akers' long run of the day was a gain of 11, and his TD was a one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter that gave the Vikings a 27-6 lead. The 25-year-old saw his most carries since Week 11, but his efficiency was way down (2.4 yards per carry) against a beatable Bears defense. With backfield mate Aaron Jones exhibiting a stranglehold on the lead-back job, Akers will retain his handcuff status for next weekend's road tilt with the Seattle Seahawks.
Dec 16, 2024 11:54 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers rushed for 37 yards on five carries during Sunday's Week 14 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He also had a 24-yard kick return. Akers averaged an impressive 7.4 yards per carry in the victory, although that number was skewed by a 25-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. He also logged his second-highest snap share (32 percent) since Week 5. On a less positive note, the 25-year-old was held without a target in the passing game for the second week in a row. Akers has firmly established himself as the Vikings' No. 2 running back behind Aaron Jones, but he's merely a handcuff and should be benched in all fantasy leagues for the time being.
Dec 9, 2024 10:17 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers will not be a recommended fantasy option this weekend when he squares off against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons' defense has been vulnerable to their opponents' air attacks this season but a bit more unforgiving on the ground. Despite allowing the fifth-most receptions to running backs in 2024 (70), Atlanta is letting up just 20.7 fantasy points per game to the position -- the ninth-fewest. Additionally, Akers has seen just four touches in each of the last two weeks and is back to a decreased role in Minnesota's offense. With a tough matchup on tap and a declining role in the offense, fantasy managers can't trust him. The 25-year-old is RotoBaller's PPR RB42 in this week's ranks.
Dec 6, 2024 6:45 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers shouldn't be relied on as a viable source of fantasy output this Sunday when he takes on the Arizona Cardinals. Akers looked like he was trending toward commanding a larger share of the workload, but it appeared to be for just a few games as backfield mate Aaron Jones battled through an injury. Last week, in the team's win over the Chicago Bears, Jones garnered all but four of Minnesota's 29 backfield touches. The lead back is again primed for another productive day against a Cardinals squad letting up 24.6 fantasy points per game to running backs -- the tenth-most in the league. With Jones back to dominating touches in the Vikings' offense, the 25-year-old is again relegated to handcuff or deep-league-stash status. Akers is RotoBaller's PPR RB51 in this week's rankings.
Nov 30, 2024 10:09 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers has a road matchup against their division-rival Chicago Bears on tap this Sunday. Akers has been far from efficient with his rush attempts over the last two weeks (23/63[2.74 YPC]), but he had at least 12 touches in each appearance and got into the end zone for the third time this season in Week 11's victory over the Tennessee Titans. It's unclear whether his workload has been due to backfield mate Aaron Jones (ribs) and his injury. Still, he's seen his snap share rise in each of the previous three contests. Chicago has been a decent matchup for fantasy running backs, allowing 17.4 points to the position -; a bottom-half of the league number. The 25-year-old's workload could be spotty, but he has a good shot at being effective with his touches against a unit allowing 4.8 yards per carry on the season. He's RotoBaller's PPR RB34 in this week's rankings.
Nov 22, 2024 3:37 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers will not be a recommended option this Sunday when his team squares off against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. The former Florida State Seminole garnered his highest touch total of the season in last weekend's victory over the Jaguars when he received 14 of them (13 rushes) with backfield mate Aaron Jones (ribs) briefly tending to an injury. It appears that Akers has taken over Minnesota's RB2 role over the last few weeks, superseding Ty Chandler, who previously held that title. Even with his new-found promotion, the 25-year-old is little more than a handcuff unless Jones is forced to miss time. Akers ranks as RotoBaller's RB42 in PPR formats for Week 11.
Nov 15, 2024 5:39 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers appears to have moved into the primary backup role in the backfield. Last week, Akers rushed six times for 46 yards in the win over the Indianapolis Colts. Fellow back Ty Chandler appears to have moved into the third string role now. That means, Akers should see a handful of carries behind Aaron Jones most weeks. Akers is unlikely to have reliable value while being the backup, but is worth holding in deep leagues and dynasty formats as he's only one injury away from being the starter. The 25-year-old can be avoided for Week 10, but is worth a stash.
Nov 10, 2024 9:59 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers was traded from the Houston Texans last week. He was active for last week's game against the Detroit Lions but didn't handle any carries in the backfield. However, Akers could see some action with lead back Aaron Jones (hamstring) on the injury report ahead of Thursday's Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The absence of Jones would likely mean that Ty Chandler takes over as the lead back. Akers figures to be the primary backup to Chandler and would probably see at least a handful of carries. Akers might be worth a stash in deep leagues, but it's hard to imagine him having much value as the third string.
Oct 22, 2024 10:07 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers could be pushed up the depth chart on Sunday if Aaron Jones (hamstring) cannot suit up. Jones is currently listed as questionable and could be a game-time decision. The Vikings traded for Akers from Houston earlier this week, which could suggest that Jones may not be able to play. In Houston, Akers saw work as the lead running back when Joe Mixon (ankle) was sidelined and tallied a modest 9.3 PPR points per game during a three-game stretch. While Ty Chandler will likely see most attempts in Jones' absence, Akers could carve out a solid workload and be a viable desperation flex option in 14+ team formats.
Oct 19, 2024 2:34 PM EST
The Minnesota Vikings are trading for running back Cam Akers. The Vikings will send the Houston Texans a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for Akers and a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick. Akers played six games for the Vikings in 2023 after his unceremonious departure from the Los Angeles Rams. He had been filling in for Joe Mixon in 2024 as the latter recovered from an ankle injury. During that time, Dare Ogunbowale emerged as a viable option. Dameon Pierce has also returned to the lineup from his own injury which made Akers expendable. The Vikings only had running backs Ty Chandler, Myles Gaskin, and Aaron Jones (hip) on their roster. With Jones ailing and limited depth behind him, the Vikings likely felt like they needed to make a move. Akers has familiarity with Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell due to their days in Los Angeles together. Akers has rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown in 2024.
Oct 15, 2024 6:41 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Cam Akers scored his second touchdown of the season on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, capping a day in which he had 42 rushing yards on nine carries and caught two of three targets for five yards. The fifth-year back scored on a 15-yard run in the first quarter, his first touchdown of longer than 10 yards since September, 2022. The Florida State product's fantasy relevance going forward, however, will be tied directly to Houston's injury report. Once starting running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is healthy enough to play, Akers' role surely will decrease. Houston travels to New England in Week 6.
Oct 6, 2024 4:28 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Cam Akers is trending toward drawing his third consecutive start in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. Akers has seized an increased role in the Houston backfield with both Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (sidelined). Mixon has already been ruled out for this week's contest, and while the Texans are leaving the door open for Pierce, he missed two of three practices this week and faces an uphill battle to play. Therefore, it's looking like Akers will draw the start for the third week in a row. He has posted limited results on reduced opportunities during that span, registering just 74 rushing yards, eight receiving yards, and one touchdown. On a promising note, Akers could fare better this week against a porous Bills run defense. Buffalo has allowed the second-most fantasy points and the second-most receptions to opposing running backs this year, positioning Akers in the low-end RB2 tier for Sunday's clash.
Oct 5, 2024 9:16 AM EST
Houston Texans running back Cam Akers had the backfield mostly to himself on Sunday in a 24-20 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, finishing with 53 yards on 13 carries without a touchdown or a catch. For the second straight week, the Texans were without starting running back Joe Mixon, thrusting the former L.A. Ram into spot duty. With the game on the line, however, running back Dare Ogunbowale drew the key target from quarterback C.J. Stroud, a one-yard touchdown inside the final minute. Akers likely will return to a backup role if Mixon returns in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills.
Sep 29, 2024 4:53 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Cam Akers and wide receiver John Metchie III are healthy scratches for Week 1 of the regular season against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Texans are rolling with starter Joe Mixon and backups Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale as their three RBs to open the year against the Colts. The 25-year-old Akers saw plenty of action in the preseason, but for now he'll just be RB depth in Houston and remains well off the fantasy radar. Metchie has plenty of talent but has been hurt by injuries so far in his NFL career, and the Texans now have a crowded receiver room that features Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods and others. The 24-year-old is also battling for a position with Xavier Hutchinson and Steven Sims. Obviously, Akers and Metchie both belong on the waiver wire in your league.
Sep 8, 2024 12:18 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Cam Akers made the team's final 53-man roster on Tuesday, signing just a week after training camp had started. Akers doesn't present much value on special teams, so that means if he's active, he will be pushing for carries on game days to spell workhorse starter Joe Mixon. If the Texans opt to trade away presumed No. 2 back Dameon Pierce as well, Akers would become Houston's preferred backup and fantasy's clear-cut handcuff to Mixon. It's hard to envision Akers, 25, having much upside or standalone value this season, after rushing for a mere 2.8 yards per carry over 60 attempts and coming off his second career Achilles tear in 2023, but the former second-round pick is at least trending up this summer over Pierce.
Aug 28, 2024 3:00 PM EST
Houston Texans running back Cam Akers showcased his skills in the team's final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. He led the Texans' rushing attack with 53 yards on seven carries, averaging 7.6 yards per run. Akers also added three receptions for 19 yards, highlighting his versatility. Acquired to provide depth after starter Joe Mixon's preseason injury, Akers seems poised to secure the third-string running back spot, especially since backup Dameon Pierce did not see any action. Having played in a similar offensive system with the Rams, Akers may be well-suited for Bobby Slowik's zone-heavy scheme. Monitoring who becomes the backup if Mixon is sidelined could be crucial, as the starting running back for the Texans will likely hold significant fantasy value.
Aug 25, 2024 3:30 AM EST
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce started the preseason game against the New York Giants but struggled to make an impact, managing only four carries for five yards. Pierce averaged a disappointing 1.3 yards per carry, failing to show any improvement from his previous performance. In contrast, Cam Akers, serving as his primary backup, ran for 29 yards on six carries, including a long of 14 yards. Akers, who was signed at the beginning of training camp, has quickly emerged as a legitimate roster contender, transforming from a camp body into a potential backup to Joe Mixon. His familiarity with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's scheme has helped him catch up despite joining late. J.J. Taylor led the Texans' running backs with 36 yards on five carries, and rookie British Brooks scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. However, with both Taylor and Brooks unlikely to make the final roster, the primary focus for the Texans will be the competition for Mixon's backup role.
Aug 18, 2024 4:08 AM EST
The Houston Texans' running back Cam Akers (Achilles) rushed five times for 13 yards and caught both his targets for 18 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears. He displayed quickness on a 14-yard reception that set up his touchdown catch. Akers is working to make a comeback with the Texans after suffering a torn Achilles tendon for the second time in three years, which cut his previous season short. Returning to the field just under nine months after the latest injury, which occurred in Week 9 of last season with the Vikings, is an impressive feat given the challenges of recovering from multiple Achilles tears. Akers is competing for the No. 3 running back spot with Dare Ogunbowale, rookie sixth-round pick Jawhar Jordan, and J.J. Taylor. None of these backs hold significant fantasy value unless Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce are injured.
Aug 2, 2024 4:07 AM EST