Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers left the field with an apparent injury in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons. What do we know about Akers’ injury, and how does losing him change things in Minnesota?
Cam Akers Injury Update
The Vikings RB suffered an apparent ankle injury and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game after leaving for the locker room on a cart.
Akers’ injury is concerning for Minnesota’s backfield, but the backup RB was also serving as the Vikings’ emergency quarterback for the game. Jaren Hall was knocked out of the game early, forcing Joshua Dobbs into action.
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Dobbs isn’t shy about using his frame and athleticism to pick up yards on the ground. However, nobody knows exactly where Minnesota could go if Dobbs was forced off the field.
David J. Chao postulated on X (formerly Twitter) that the injury was going to be season-ending. While he didn’t say that it was a ruptured Achilles in Akers’ opposite leg, that appears to be the fear.
#Vikings RB Cam Akers was injured on this play and carted off the field.
Akers was Minnesota’s emergency QB today.
pic.twitter.com/dbjguHTRWw— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 5, 2023
Update (4:54 p.m. ET): Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that the team fears that it is an Achilles injury, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic.
Fantasy Impact From Akers’ Injury
Efficiency has been tough over the past month for the Vikings’ run game, and that isn’t likely to change in this post-Kirk Cousins world. Yet, this injury does give us further clarity that Alexander Mattison is “the guy” in this backfield.
Mattison has a touchdown catch or at least four catches in three of his past five games, allowing him to overcome some inefficiencies on the ground. The argument could be made that this injury adds extra rushing equity to Dobbs’ fantasy profile, but he’s not an asset in standard leagues.