The Incomplete Masterpiece
This is what I labeled Akers in 2019 during his final season at FSU.
A tackle-breaking, pass-receiving, safety-beating, nose tackle-blocking running back built for a real workload, Cam Akers tantalizes fans and scouts with his talents while being an incomplete masterpiece. NFL running backs are scheme-versatile and it’s clear that Akers has work to do as a zone runner.
Right now, Akers feet cannot consistently process what he sees. He hasn’t worked enough on mastering the various combinations of footwork that lead to efficient use of space.
Akers is still leaning too much on raw athletic ability to avoid defenders and access secondary creases. This is not a career-killing flaw, but the sooner Akers masters the multiple choice of pressing creases, bounces, and cutbacks, the more difficult a time coaches will have of keeping him off the field.
And when he’s on the field, he can stay on the field on passing downs. Although Boise State’s nose tackle won’t be mistaken for the behemoths seen in the SEC and NFL, Akers’ block to lead off this week’s Boiler Room is a gorgeous display of skill.
If Akers refines his game, he has elite potential.
Fast-forward 39 months, and the best way to describe Akers' NFL career has been turmoil. The Rams' offensive line, at its best, has been inconsistent. At its worst, it has been a turnstile.
Even so, Akers' rookie performance had fans excited about his potential. From my point of view, Akers didn't look like the dynamic mover and creator that he was in Tallahassee.
He was a better match for gap-style blocking and didn't look completely comfortable with the Rams' wide zone. I wasn't as impressed with his initial acclimation but was open to that changing by Year Two.
An Achilles injury threatened to prevent an NFL acclimation from ever happening. Although Akers returned to the field in record time, the expectations for him in early 2022 were a wild projection based on how he performed.
After a slow start for this entire offense, it was rumored the Rams were shopping Akers by mid-year. He had left the team, but there wasn't a definitive report as to why. Not that we needed one: Akers was unhappy with his standing on the team.
Fortunately for the Rams, if they indeed shopped Akers, there were no takers. Because despite offensive line woes and the loss of its marquee offensive skill talent, Akers has emerged down the stretch with backups and journeymen.
The box score scouts in this industry will note that Akers' December, which has generated top-five production at his position, rests on 4 of the 10 most generous run defenses in the league. Don't lean too hard on that fact; you might miss out on a player who is not only resurgent but looking better than he did upon entering the NFL.
Akers' Film
I checked out 200 plays from Akers during the past five weeks. As most of you know, I evaluate players with criteria that measure the skills, techniques, and concepts that a player has within his control.
This is why I've had success for the past 18 years with not getting seduced by data that doesn't reveal the true projection of where a player will thrive and/or struggle.
Here are 17 minutes of plays I've picked from those 200 plays. Most of them are runs but also include a few receptions.
Here's what's notable:
- Akers is confident in his rehabbed foot and ankle. The unplanned changes of direction are sharp and sudden.
- Akers has become a more efficient runner.
- Akers is explosive in and out of cuts.
- Akers has enhanced his patience between the tackles and in the open field.
- Akers is finishing strong as an interior runner.
The efficiency Akers is showing is a new development. He has replaced a lot of his jump stops and jump cuts with hip-based turns where he points the big toe of his lead foot in the direction he wants to turn.
This technique opens the hips of the back, and it generates turns of up to 90 degrees with a single step. This move is far more efficient than a jump stop or jump cut because the back doesn't have to go airborne to execute the move. The step to open the hips can be narrow or wide based on the amount of room he has at his disposal.
The hip-based turns are also helping Akers press creases tighter to set up bounces or cutbacks. Don't be mistaken; Akers still has sudden stop-start movement and lateral agility. He has become wiser about using it.
Another factor that has aided Akers' development is the Rams embracing more gap-style runs against the nickel-based defenses. While it's a league-wide adjustment among offenses, Sean McVay has been stubborn in the past about sticking with wide zone runs to the detriment of his team.
The Rams have added Counter to its arsenal, and that's a blocking scheme suited for Akers' talents. With Toss, wide zone, Duo, and Counter as part of the offense, Akers is demonstrating the run-game versatility coveted from a lead back.
At FSU, Akers was a creative runner but unrefined and inefficient. This month, Akers has been creative, efficient, and refined with the ball. He's setting up blocks, avoiding unblocked defenders, and playing at a confident tempo.
I always thought Akers was one of the best receivers at his position in his draft class. He has always possessed strong hand-eye coordination, he adjusted well to the football in difficult catch-point scenarios, and he had some skill to find open spaces when working with his quarterback off-script.
If the Rams are willing to expand its passing game with Akers, I believe he has the upside to become an elite fantasy player due to his total yardage and PPR potential.
While the Rams need more depth at the positions, I'd be surprised if they draft a runner in the first three rounds or sign a free agent younger than 27 years of age with an annual track record of starter production.
If they do, I still expect Akers to be the lead back. He has looked that good. Unless his injury history beyond the Achilles' Tendon generates concern along the lines of Rashaad Penny, Akers has done enough to generate optimism for 2023.
Speaking of Penny, he'd be the type of back I'd expect the Rams to take a chance on after the well runs dry on his free-agent hopes due to injury.
I doubt your league mates in dynasty formats will come off Akers cheap after waiting so long for him to deliver. They will likely see this as their chance for him to make good for them.
If they prove the exception to the rule and lean too hard on the box score scouting mentioned above, you might get Akers at a bargain price. For me, that value will be in the range of low-end RB2/high-end RB3 range for 12-team PPR formats.
The real value may still be there in 2023 re-draft formats. Based on what I've seen, Akers is a potential bargain. This will especially be the case if the Rams sign a veteran free agent or early draft pick whose name is better than his game.
I rarely have players I won't draft. Akers has been one of them due to his injury. From what I've seen, he's off that list and quickly gaining ground as a player to have in 2023.