The NFL journey for Minnesota Vikings RB Cam Akers has not exactly been full of good fortune. After flashing some leading back potential during his days with the Los Angeles Rams, he was quickly traded to the Vikings after losing his starting role to RB Kyren Williams after the 2023 season opener.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck the former FSU product in the form of a torn Achilles for the second time in his NFL career. This injury has his dynasty fantasy football value at an all-time low. Should dynasty managers consider buying low on Akers right now or attempt to cut their losses and trade him for anything in return ahead of the 2024 NFL season?
Cam Akers’ Dynasty Outlook
After appearing to take the leading role in the Rams backfield over in the final month of the 2020 season, Akers has seen his fantasy value take some major twists and turns through his first four years in the NFL.
Cam Akers with the TD for the #Rams to make this a one score game 😅pic.twitter.com/fi0i8gsCMk
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 9, 2022
He was a popular breakout candidate heading into the 2021 season but suffered an untimely torn Achilles before the start of the year, leading to an RB131 finish.
He was a popular breakout candidate again heading into 2022 but oddly fell out of favor with the coaching staff and demanded a trade before finishing the year with three straight 100-yard rushing performances. He ultimately finished the season as the RB35.
After a strong finish to his third season, Akers was a popular breakout candidate for a third straight season heading into 2023 before losing his starting job, getting traded to the Vikings, and tragically tearing his Achilles for a second time in three years, finishing as the RB66.
Akers enters the 2024 offseason as a restricted free agent who is attempting to rehabilitate a second devastating lower-body injury before the age of 25.
The track record of inconsistent production and concerning injury history likely makes his value on the free agent market quite low, which could devastate what remains of his dynasty value.
Akers failed to emerge as a leading back in Los Angeles, failed to significantly outplay RB Alexander Mattison during his time with the Vikings, and has failed to live up to fantasy expectations for three straight years.
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The odds of him finally breaking out as a star fantasy back after two major lower body issues and two lackluster tenures in productive offensive systems don’t exactly bode well for his future dynasty value.
If he returns to the Vikings in 2024, it may be his best opportunity to earn a significant fantasy role for the upcoming year. If he hits the open market, then his dynasty outlook becomes little more than a dart throw with a talented prospect who has failed to live up to his potential through his first four seasons.
Akers’ Dynasty Ranking
Where does Akers land in the dynasty RB landscape going into the 2024 offseason? Here are Tate’s latest rankings, featuring where Akers lands in comparison to other top names at the position.
1) Bijan Robinson | ATL
2) Breece Hall | NYJ
3) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET
4) Christian McCaffrey | SF
5) Jonathan Taylor | IND
6) Kyren Williams | LAR
7) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX
8) Saquon Barkley | NYG
9) Rachaad White | TB
10) Isiah Pacheco | KC
11) James Cook | BUF
12) De’Von Achane | MIA
13) Kenneth Walker III | SEA
14) Alvin Kamara | NO
15) Javonte Williams | DEN
16) Tyjae Spears | TEN
17) Josh Jacobs | LV
18) Austin Ekeler | LAC
19) D’Andre Swift | PHI
20) Tony Pollard | DAL
21) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS
22) Najee Harris | PIT
23) Jaylen Warren | PIT
24) Joe Mixon | CIN
25) David Montgomery | DET
26) Zach Charbonnet | SEA
27) Zamir White | LV
28) Nick Chubb | CLE
29) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE
30) Derrick Henry | TEN
31) Kendre Miller | NO
32) Chase Brown | CIN
33) Keaton Mitchell | BAL
34) Roschon Johnson | CHI
35) Jerome Ford | CLE
36) Aaron Jones | GB
37) James Conner | ARI
38) Tyler Allgeier | ATL
39) Khalil Herbert | CHI
40) Ty Chandler | MIN
41) Devin Singletary | HOU
42) Raheem Mostert | MIA
43) Chuba Hubbard | CAR
44) Alexander Mattison | MIN
45) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI
46) J.K. Dobbins | BAL
47) Gus Edwards | BAL
48) AJ Dillon | GB
49) Dameon Pierce | HOU
50) Tank Bigsby | JAX
51) Deuce Vaughn | DAL
52) Emari Demercado | ARI
53) Dalvin Cook | BAL
54) Miles Sanders | CAR
55) Isaiah Spiller | LAC
56) Ezekiel Elliott | NE
57) Antonio Gibson | WAS
58) Damien Harris | BUF
59) Zach Evans | LAR
60) Kareem Hunt | CLE
61) Rico Dowdle | DAL
62) Jamaal Williams | NO
63) Elijah Mitchell | SF
64) Zack Moss | IND
65) Rashaad Penny | PHI
66) Samaje Perine | DEN
67) Israel Abanikanda | NYJ
68) Ronnie Rivers | LAR
69) Cam Akers | MIN
70) Sean Tucker | TB
71) Evan Hull | IND
72) Ty Johnson | BUF
73) D’Onta Foreman | CHI
74) Leonard Fournette | BUF
75) Jeff Wilson Jr. | MIA
76) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC
77) Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN
78) Justice Hill | BAL
79) Jerick McKinnon | KC
80) Michael Carter | ARI
Should You Trade Akers in Dynasty?
Are you considering trading Akers? Our free PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trade offer to make in seconds!
The odds certainly feel like they are stacked against Akers approaching the 2024 offseason. His current fantasy value likely equals a fourth-round rookie pick because of all the negative factors working against him.
Sure, he has flashed some capabilities as a productive runner for brief moments during his NFL career. Still, his current outlook offers no security and all risk for interested dynasty managers.
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Personally, I feel like we have seen a definitive end to any optimism regarding Akers’ potential as a leading back in the NFL, which means trading him low is something I would strongly consider.
I would gladly take a fourth-round rookie pick or another young prospect — names like Dallas Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn, Cincinnati Bengals WR Andrei Iosivas, and Pittsburgh Steelers WR Calvin Austin III come to mind — in return for dealing Akers.
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