Who Should I Start? Cam Akers or Patrick Taylor

Tuesday, October 15, 6:41 PM

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.

Wednesday, April 3, 4:09 PM

The San Francisco 49ers are signing free-agent running back Patrick Taylor to a one-year deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 25-year-old went undrafted following his final collegiate season at Memphis, and he has spent the last four years with the Green Bay Packers, mostly as a reserve. Through his first 34 NFL games, Taylor has rushed 65 times for 261 yards and one touchdown and caught 14 passes for 69 yards. With Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, and Jordan Mason on the roster, it'd be surprising if Taylor has a role for San Francisco next season on offense. There's also no guarantee he will make the 53-man roster, so this signing is inconsequential for fantasy football.