Who Should I Start? Samaje Perine or Cam Akers

Monday, September 18, 12:26 AM

Denver Broncos running back Samaje Perine was supposed to be sharing a bigger part of the backfield workload early in his first season in Denver as the team eased backfield mate Javonte Williams in after his ACL and LCL tears in Week 4 of 2022. But in the Week 2 loss to the Washington Commanders, Perine had just one carry for four yards and caught three of his four targets for 20 yards in the 35-33 loss at home. Rookie Jaleel McLaughlin had as many carries as Perine and took his handoff five yards to paydirt. In the season opener last week, Perine saw 12 touches for 78 yards, so this was a big-time disappointment. The full expectation is that Williams will eventually gain even more work in the Broncos' backfield, so Perine will enter the Week 3 matchup in Miami as tough to trust as an RB3/flex in deeper leagues.

Wednesday, September 20, 6:36 PM

The Minnesota Vikings are acquiring running back Cam Akers from the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday, according to sources. It's unclear what the Vikings are sending the Rams in return. Akers, who wore out his welcome in Los Angeles, will now reunite with his former offensive coordinator, Kevin O'Connell, in Minnesota. The Rams made Akers a healthy scratch in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers after he had just 29 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in the season opener. He'll form a one-two punch for the Vikings backfield now with Alexander Mattison, who hasn't impressed at all in his first two games as the team's lead back. Akers' fantasy stock had hit rock bottom, but this move gives him a chance to be relevant again, albeit in a pass-happy offense.