Sept. 21 (UPI) — The Minnesota Vikings’ decision to acquire former Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers will impact the stability of their backfield for fantasy football enthusiasts. What’s more, this move creates an opportunity for owners of Alexander Mattison’s stock to capitalize on his recent performances after Week 3.
On Wednesday night, the two teams revealed that they had reached an agreement to trade undisclosed picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, the deal is pending Akers’ successful completion of a physical examination.
Akers, only 24 years old, was selected by the Rams in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. However, he faced struggles in his early seasons due to injuries. As a rookie, he accumulated 748 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, showcasing his potential towards the end of the season. Unfortunately, a torn Achilles tendon caused him to miss 16 games in 2021.
In 2022, Akers made a strong return, achieving a career-high of 903 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. However, his performance declined this season, leading to disagreements with the coaching staff and ultimately resulting in his departure from the Rams.
During Week 1, Akers contributed a mere 29 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 22 touches. As a result of a “coach’s decision” deemed to be in the team’s best interest, he was inactive for Week 2. Rams coach Sean McVay stated earlier this week that the team was actively working on trading the running back.
In their recent 30-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Rams started Kyren Williams as their running back. Although McVay mentioned that they will assess their starting running back position, he made it clear that there wouldn’t be any flip-flopping in decisions.
Williams, who impressed with 100 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in Week 2 against the formidable 49ers defense, is now considered an RB2 moving forward.
With Akers’ arrival in Minnesota, he is expected to initially serve as the backup to Mattison. Mattison, who was highly regarded as an RB2 in many fantasy drafts, has managed just 83 yards and one touchdown on 25 touches in the first two weeks.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been the Vikings’ second-leading rusher, amassing a mere seven yards over the course of two starts. While Akers should improve the Vikings’ rushing game, it may further decrease Mattison’s value. Ty Chandler, the second-string running back for the Vikings, has accumulated seven touches for 27 yards this season.
I anticipate the Vikings adopting more of a committee-style approach in the upcoming weeks, with the possibility of Akers even challenging for the lead role if he outperforms Mattison.
Akers should be considered for a bench spot in fantasy teams participating in leagues with at least 14 teams. As of now, none of the Vikings’ running backs can be relied upon for consistent production. However, Mattison could provide RB2-level value in Week 3 when facing the Los Angeles Chargers, who currently possess the league’s weakest defense in terms of yards allowed. They have surrendered the most passing yards but rank 15th in rushing yards allowed.
If Mattison performs well in Week 3, I would recommend trading him while his value is high. In exchange, acquiring a player with more favorable opportunities and easier matchups going forward would be advantageous.
The Vikings will be hosting the Chargers at 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday in Minneapolis.
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