Photo: USA Today Sports

Others in this series: Isiah Pacheco | Brock Purdy | Justyn Ross

Cam Akers is a survivor. The list of running backs to return from Achilles injuries is short. Akers, D’Onta Foreman, and James Robinson. Calling Robinson a success may be questionable.

Akers was widely labeled finished. On November 11th, 2022, he was RB58 in Keeptradecut.com’s rankings. Then, a miracle happened. Akers finished the season on a torrid stretch. He gained 512 rushing yards in six games, scoring six touchdowns - a full-season pace of 1,451 yards and 17 touchdowns. Players who posted those numbers for the Rams are a who's who of fantasy royalty: Todd Gurley, Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson, and Zac Stacy.

He rewarded managers who stuck with him with a value bounce back. Managers who bought low reaped a massive value increase.

Cash out.

Albert Einstein once opined on roulette: “You cannot beat a roulette table unless you steal money from it.” A running back Achilles injury is a roulette table. Usually, you’ll slowly lose money as you enjoy comped drinks to keep you at the table. But occasionally, you will hit a run. Then, it is time to go.

Akers hit a run. It is time for you to walk from the table.

Why Sell?

Context. Akers' run was a product of desperation. The Rams were on a 1-7 stretch when it started. The team was coming off a game where starting quarterback Bryce Perkins threw for 100 yards, and punter Riley Dixon had the highest passer rating.

There was no choice but to roll out their former second-round pick and make it through a lost season.

But the Rams have given themselves options.

In 2022, Kyren Williams out-targeted Akers 12 to 8 over a seven-game stretch from Week 10 to Week 16. Scott Barrett has done great work on the value of a target relative to the value of a rush. Kyren Williams has generated camp talk for his involvement in the passing game. Meanwhile, the team drafted Zach Evans.

The most significant point is that Akers is a free agent after 2023. The Rams have made little secret about working toward rebuilding. Both Williams and Evans are cost-controlled for the next three seasons. And the Rams are not expected to contend. The team will eventually see what they have in the younger backs.