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RB Cam Akers, MIN (1 Viewer)

Interesting. As someone who owns him in both my leagues, I'm glad it gone done sooner rather than later. It's a talented offense and Mattison is far from a world beater, so who knows. Certainly worth holding for now. No idea why the weekly FBG upgrade/downgrade email suggested cutting him. That was just silly
Don't think it was silly at all. He still has a few things that need to break his way before he's startable. For people with short benches, I definitely don't think they needed to hold him through all the uncertainty. Personally, I cut him last week as soon as I heard he was a healthy scratch and don't regret it in the slightest
 
Jordan Schultz
BREAKING: The #Rams are trading RB Cam Akers to the #Vikings, per sources.

Akers, a former 2nd-round pick, had three straight 100-yard games with 3 TDs to closeout last season. A new home for the 24-year-old.


Adam Schefter

Vikings’ HC Kevin O’Connell worked with Cam Akers in Los Angeles and wanted to work with him again in Minnesota.

 
Jackpot- well sorta, not really lol. Definitely worth holding. Although that compensation is pretty weak! I’m guessing that the rest of the nfl knew he would be on waivers soon enough. Vikings had a good shot to claim him at 0-2 but gave a bit extra to remove uncertainty. I really wanna know what is up with this guy.

Overall, he’s got a clear path to touches. Vikings know their seasons **** if they don’t run the ball with some consistency
 
Outstanding!

Now the question is… How soon until he’s a safe start…?
How’s never. Is never good for you?
:lol:

I’d prefer sooner over never!!

At the moment, I don’t plan to start CAkers this week but I’m definitely interested in seeing how things work out on the field. I also have CMC, TPollard, JWilliams and JTaylor. I drafted CAkers as my RB3 so maybe he’ll be that after all. I’m going to stick with those first three until CAkers and or JTaylor give me a reason to start them. I have no problem taking a wait and see approach here.

Ironically, this week I play the team with AMattison so CAkers may help me a little bit after all. Just taking away 5-10 touches from Mattison this week is a plus for my situation.
 
So now what happens to the Rest Of Season Rankings for CAkers and AMattison?

CAkers was down to 1 PPG versus 16 PPG for MAttison. (With my league’s scoring system.)

I’ll be pressing the refresh button for FBG updates every couple hours to find out.
 
Outstanding!

Now the question is… How soon until he’s a safe start…?
How’s never. Is never good for you?
:lol:

I’d prefer sooner over never!!

At the moment, I don’t plan to start CAkers this week but I’m definitely interested in seeing how things work out on the field. I also have CMC, TPollard, JWilliams and JTaylor. I drafted CAkers as my RB3 so maybe he’ll be that after all. I’m going to stick with those first three until CAkers and or JTaylor give me a reason to start them. I have no problem taking a wait and see approach here.

Ironically, this week I play the team with AMattison so CAkers may help me a little bit after all. Just taking away 5-10 touches from Mattison this week is a plus for my situation.
Honestly I think it hurts both backs in redraft (though yes, better than a healthy scratch), and in dynasty it’s just a mess.

On the one hand, you have Akers who looked terrible week 1 before he was in the doghouse, and on the other you have Mattison for whom this deal seems like a vote of no confidence by the Vikings.

And on the other other hand (yes I realize that’s 3 hands) you have the Vikings OL which I’d consider a downgrade from LAR.

At least based on what I’ve seen Williams do behind that same LAR OL, and what I’ve seen of the MIN OL.

I honestly don’t see any reason for excitement, but if someone in your league does (the Mattison owner, perhaps) I’d try to deal Akers immediately.
 
Outstanding!

Now the question is… How soon until he’s a safe start…?
How’s never. Is never good for you?
:lol:

I’d prefer sooner over never!!

At the moment, I don’t plan to start CAkers this week but I’m definitely interested in seeing how things work out on the field. I also have CMC, TPollard, JWilliams and JTaylor. I drafted CAkers as my RB3 so maybe he’ll be that after all. I’m going to stick with those first three until CAkers and or JTaylor give me a reason to start them. I have no problem taking a wait and see approach here.

Ironically, this week I play the team with AMattison so CAkers may help me a little bit after all. Just taking away 5-10 touches from Mattison this week is a plus for my situation.
Honestly I think it hurts both backs in redraft (though yes, better than a healthy scratch), and in dynasty it’s just a mess.

On the one hand, you have Akers who looked terrible week 1 before he was in the doghouse, and on the other you have Mattison for whom this deal seems like a vote of no confidence by the Vikings.

And on the other other hand (yes I realize that’s 3 hands) you have the Vikings OL which I’d consider a downgrade from LAR.

At least based on what I’ve seen Williams do behind that same LAR OL, and what I’ve seen of the MIN OL.

I honestly don’t see any reason for excitement, but if someone in your league does (the Mattison owner, perhaps) I’d try to deal Akers immediately.

I don’t want to make too much of the stats from a single game. I don want to make a lot of the healthy inactive. That was a huge red flag and one possible outcome was CAkers didn’t play much this year. Now that he’s off to the Viking AND…importantly…a coach that has experience with him…well that’s very encouraging!

I’m good with points that have more than two hands.

Does anyone know offhand (a fourth hand?) the book on these two when it comes to blocking…?
 
Interesting. As someone who owns him in both my leagues, I'm glad it gone done sooner rather than later. It's a talented offense and Mattison is far from a world beater, so who knows. Certainly worth holding for now. No idea why the weekly FBG upgrade/downgrade email suggested cutting him. That was just silly
Don't think it was silly at all. He still has a few things that need to break his way before he's startable. For people with short benches, I definitely don't think they needed to hold him through all the uncertainty. Personally, I cut him last week as soon as I heard he was a healthy scratch and don't regret it in the slightest
He's still 88% owned in yahoo which I find shocking
 
Interesting. As someone who owns him in both my leagues, I'm glad it gone done sooner rather than later. It's a talented offense and Mattison is far from a world beater, so who knows. Certainly worth holding for now. No idea why the weekly FBG upgrade/downgrade email suggested cutting him. That was just silly
Don't think it was silly at all. He still has a few things that need to break his way before he's startable. For people with short benches, I definitely don't think they needed to hold him through all the uncertainty. Personally, I cut him last week as soon as I heard he was a healthy scratch and don't regret it in the slightest
He's still 88% owned in yahoo which I find shocking

What is Yahoo for $600?
 
Outstanding!

Now the question is… How soon until he’s a safe start…?
How’s never. Is never good for you?
:lol:

I’d prefer sooner over never!!

At the moment, I don’t plan to start CAkers this week but I’m definitely interested in seeing how things work out on the field. I also have CMC, TPollard, JWilliams and JTaylor. I drafted CAkers as my RB3 so maybe he’ll be that after all. I’m going to stick with those first three until CAkers and or JTaylor give me a reason to start them. I have no problem taking a wait and see approach here.

Ironically, this week I play the team with AMattison so CAkers may help me a little bit after all. Just taking away 5-10 touches from Mattison this week is a plus for my situation.
Honestly I think it hurts both backs in redraft (though yes, better than a healthy scratch), and in dynasty it’s just a mess.

On the one hand, you have Akers who looked terrible week 1 before he was in the doghouse, and on the other you have Mattison for whom this deal seems like a vote of no confidence by the Vikings.

And on the other other hand (yes I realize that’s 3 hands) you have the Vikings OL which I’d consider a downgrade from LAR.

At least based on what I’ve seen Williams do behind that same LAR OL, and what I’ve seen of the MIN OL.

I honestly don’t see any reason for excitement, but if someone in your league does (the Mattison owner, perhaps) I’d try to deal Akers immediately.
This sounds like something someone who dropped Akers would say 😉
 
Obviously every league is different. So if you're in a league with a really shallow bench (or a smaller league with plenty on the WW).....I guess I can see dropping him for the right guy.

I just dont see why one poor performance and one healthy scratch (which was clearly going to lead to a trade. Something had to give) would cause you to immediately cut a guy that you presumably drafted as a low end RB2/high end flex option. That's the part that seems silly to me. A change in value (via the trade) was almost certainly coming. Might as well hold and see rather than give up on what was probably your 6th or 7th round pick in September.
 
I have him in my league. Was supposed to be my RB3 in a 12 team redraft non-PPR system. Right now there are plenty of viable WRs on the waiver wire but bupkus for RBs. If he can become the primary back in MIN even worthy of flex level play for bye weeks I'm OK with it.
 
Obviously every league is different. So if you're in a league with a really shallow bench (or a smaller league with plenty on the WW).....I guess I can see dropping him for the right guy.

I just dont see why one poor performance and one healthy scratch (which was clearly going to lead to a trade. Something had to give) would cause you to immediately cut a guy that you presumably drafted as a low end RB2/high end flex option. That's the part that seems silly to me. A change in value (via the trade) was almost certainly coming. Might as well hold and see rather than give up on what was probably your 6th or 7th round pick in September.
Especially when you have him in a 14 team league.
 
Obviously every league is different. So if you're in a league with a really shallow bench (or a smaller league with plenty on the WW).....I guess I can see dropping him for the right guy.

I just dont see why one poor performance and one healthy scratch (which was clearly going to lead to a trade. Something had to give) would cause you to immediately cut a guy that you presumably drafted as a low end RB2/high end flex option. That's the part that seems silly to me. A change in value (via the trade) was almost certainly coming. Might as well hold and see rather than give up on what was probably your 6th or 7th round pick in September.
Honest question: What RBs have been traded midseason and gone from being useless to fantasy starters? I'm sure there have been some, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. Jay Ajayi? Jeff Wilson last year? I don't think either of them were at the depths that Akers was at in LA. CMC obviously doesn't count, and I can think of a few who got picked up off the WW and had a good late-season run (CJ Anderson).

Anyway, that was part of my calculation in dropping him. Even if he got traded, I didn't think he'd be relevant. Generally, the trajectory of NFL RBs is downward, so the prospect of Akers rejuvenating his career with another team would seem to be unlikely. I will concede that Minnesota is probably about the best situation he could have walked into at this point
 
Wasn't Vikings coach the Rams offensive coordinator?
Indeed he was. So he knows Akers from inside the locker room.

It just figures that I rant on about how much I dont believe in Akers and honestly feel like he has been over valued by the fantasy community and then Akers gets traded to my favorite team the Vikings who are also a mess.

Great. Dont stand too close to me who knows what might get dropped on me next.
 
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Obviously every league is different. So if you're in a league with a really shallow bench (or a smaller league with plenty on the WW).....I guess I can see dropping him for the right guy.

I just dont see why one poor performance and one healthy scratch (which was clearly going to lead to a trade. Something had to give) would cause you to immediately cut a guy that you presumably drafted as a low end RB2/high end flex option. That's the part that seems silly to me. A change in value (via the trade) was almost certainly coming. Might as well hold and see rather than give up on what was probably your 6th or 7th round pick in September.
Honest question: What RBs have been traded midseason and gone from being useless to fantasy starters? I'm sure there have been some, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. Jay Ajayi? Jeff Wilson last year? I don't think either of them were at the depths that Akers was at in LA. CMC obviously doesn't count, and I can think of a few who got picked up off the WW and had a good late-season run (CJ Anderson).

Anyway, that was part of my calculation in dropping him. Even if he got traded, I didn't think he'd be relevant. Generally, the trajectory of NFL RBs is downward, so the prospect of Akers rejuvenating his career with another team would seem to be unlikely. I will concede that Minnesota is probably about the best situation he could have walked into at this point
Drake to AZ comes to mind. To be fair, this is the beginning of the season so he has more time to integrate himself. I’m not too confident at this point in Cam getting it done but I certainly think he’s worth a roster spot.
 
What RBs have been traded midseason and gone from being useless to fantasy starters?

An excellent question where it would be good to see the data?

Per ChatGPT as to RBs traded mid-season…

I'm sorry for the oversight earlier. While it's a challenge to capture every single mid-season trade of running backs between 1980 and 2021, I can attempt to provide a more comprehensive list based on available information up to 2022. Here are several of the mid-season trades involving running backs during that period:
  1. Herschel Walker (1989) - Dallas Cowboys to Minnesota Vikings
  2. Eric Dickerson (1987) - Los Angeles Rams to Indianapolis Colts (This was part of a three-team trade involving the Bills as well, with various picks and players exchanged.)
  3. Trent Richardson (2013) - Cleveland Browns to Indianapolis Colts
  4. Jay Ajayi (2017) - Miami Dolphins to Philadelphia Eagles
  5. Carlos Hyde (2018) - Cleveland Browns to Jacksonville Jaguars
  6. Kenyan Drake (2019) - Miami Dolphins to Arizona Cardinals
  7. Ty Montgomery (2018) - Green Bay Packers to Baltimore Ravens
  8. LeSean McCoy (2019) - Buffalo Bills to Kansas City Chiefs (This one is close to mid-season, happening just before the season began.)
  9. Adrian Peterson (2021) - Detroit Lions to Tennessee Titans (Although late in his career and not in the prime mid-season timeframe, it's still noteworthy.)
This is an effort to provide a more exhaustive list, but it still might not capture every single mid-season trade of running backs over that long span. The best approach to get a complete list would be to examine official NFL transaction logs or refer to dedicated databases and archives focused on NFL trades.

…I suspect this reflects all the major ones but I don’t know for sure.
 
What RBs have been traded midseason and gone from being useless to fantasy starters?

An excellent question where it would be good to see the data?
Did some Googling and found this article from last year. Conclusion: Mid-season trades do tend to help RBs (but not WRs) improve. He also includes a table with all of the players traded during that time period. The two that Akers managers should be pointing to are Peterson in 2017, when he was buried in Sean Payton's doghouse and then became a starter for the Cardinals, and Kenyan Drake in 2019, when he seemed to have washed out in Miami and then rejuvenated his career (also with the Cardinals). So maybe the key is to get traded to Arizona?

Actually, the comp Akers boosters should be hoping for is Marshawn in 2010. He was drafted by Buffalo with high hopes, but never really found himself there; it took a change of scenery for him to fulfill his promise
 
Obviously every league is different. So if you're in a league with a really shallow bench (or a smaller league with plenty on the WW).....I guess I can see dropping him for the right guy.

I just dont see why one poor performance and one healthy scratch (which was clearly going to lead to a trade. Something had to give) would cause you to immediately cut a guy that you presumably drafted as a low end RB2/high end flex option. That's the part that seems silly to me. A change in value (via the trade) was almost certainly coming. Might as well hold and see rather than give up on what was probably your 6th or 7th round pick in September.
Honest question: What RBs have been traded midseason and gone from being useless to fantasy starters? I'm sure there have been some, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. Jay Ajayi? Jeff Wilson last year? I don't think either of them were at the depths that Akers was at in LA. CMC obviously doesn't count, and I can think of a few who got picked up off the WW and had a good late-season run (CJ Anderson).

Anyway, that was part of my calculation in dropping him. Even if he got traded, I didn't think he'd be relevant. Generally, the trajectory of NFL RBs is downward, so the prospect of Akers rejuvenating his career with another team would seem to be unlikely. I will concede that Minnesota is probably about the best situation he could have walked into at this point

NFL mid-season trades have been very rare over the years. Only recently have they really become much more common.

Quick google search turns up the following (tiny sample size)--outdated article, but the first one i found.

Jay Ajayi from Miami to Philly- 500 total yards and 2 scores in 7 games. Not great, but clearly a role (on a super bowl winning team no less)
Marshawn Lynch from Buffalo to Seattle- Traded on October 5th (so similar timing). Ended up with 700 total yards and 6 scores.
Trent Richardson from Cleveland to Indy after 2 games. About 700 yards and 4 scores in a part time role

Hershell Walker and Eric Dickerson were also traded mid-season but those are both HOF players so obviously not comparable. (And Lynch is obviously a much more talented back than Akers as well) Am I happy that I'm partially counting on this to make Akers a valuable player (at least in the one league where I lost Chubb)? Certainly not. I think the timing, lack of talent at the RB spot in Minnesota and Akers previous production (albeit short lived) help....but its probably a committee at best (unless Mattison gets hurt)

6 hours ago I had a useless asset. Now I have a potential flex play(not saying a good option, but we'll see) or bye-week desperation RB2 on an offense that SHOULD be pretty decent. So based on that, I'd say it was worth holding for a couple of extra days to see. I just think calling him an auto drop knowing this was likely to happen was poor and short-sighted advice.

Again...shallow league or very shallow bench. I get it. 12 team league with 6 or 7 bench spots, I dont see why you wouldn't have held.
 
Obviously every league is different. So if you're in a league with a really shallow bench (or a smaller league with plenty on the WW).....I guess I can see dropping him for the right guy.

I just dont see why one poor performance and one healthy scratch (which was clearly going to lead to a trade. Something had to give) would cause you to immediately cut a guy that you presumably drafted as a low end RB2/high end flex option. That's the part that seems silly to me. A change in value (via the trade) was almost certainly coming. Might as well hold and see rather than give up on what was probably your 6th or 7th round pick in September.
I drafted him as my RB4 in a 12-team redraft PPR. He was a later pick & have 4 guys just like him (went WR x4 then TE & QB)

he might clear waivers. :shrug:

Every league is different, context does matter.

As for the poor performance and 1 healthy scratch, you talk like this is a new situation with Akers and not an ongoing saga for years.

Maybe a change of scenery will help.
Maybe not.

I see his new landing spot as a net negative. I’ll let him be someone else’s headache.
 
Take it for what it’s worth, but I heard Akers made comments wanting to smash Sean McVay’s wife and that’s why he was in the dog house. Again, take it for what’s it worth. No sources do whatever you want with it. Maybe someone knows more to this.
Like McVeys wife?
 
Good point in how often does a RB get traded and improve. If anyone has the ability and desire to do such research perhaps include age as a factor. Akers is still fairly young and that might matter.
 
Take it for what it’s worth, but I heard Akers made comments wanting to smash Sean McVay’s wife and that’s why he was in the dog house. Again, take it for what’s it worth. No sources do whatever you want with it. Maybe someone knows more to this.
Huh. Small world.
 
Take it for what it’s worth, but I heard Akers made comments wanting to smash Sean McVay’s wife and that’s why he was in the dog house. Again, take it for what’s it worth. No sources do whatever you want with it. Maybe someone knows more to this.

He's got his hands full for sure
 
Has anyone considered the Vikings? Mattison looks bad and Chandler too.....and a team looking for a post season run.

I ain't sayin'.....I'm just sayin'.

Exactly what we as Akers owners were hoping for. His relationship with McVay was toxic. He is still very young and proved late last season what he can do....sorry, but 3 consecutive games of that kinda dominance is no fluke. He also must realize that the leash is short now and that RB's careers rarely last past 28-30, at best. The anemic running game in Minny reflects mostly on Mattison, since defenses can't stack the box with Jefferson, Addison, and Hock to deal with. Vikes know they have a playoff caliber team, that's currently lacking a running game.

IMHO, he will not only be hyper-motivated to perform, but will get every chance to shine.
 
@CoopAFiasco
·
2m

Let’s just send all the roster clog RBs to the Vikings so we can have them all in one place - Cam Akers and Alexander Mattison already there, do Samaje Perine and AJ Dillon next

IMHO, he will not only be hyper-motivated to perform, but will get every chance to shine.

I think this is about right.

FYI… No 0-3 team has ever made it to the Super Bowl. And 0-2 teams are drawing thin to make it to the playoffs.

think around 10% of 0-2 teams make the playoffs

OTOH, would be interesting to know how many truly bad teams start 0-2
 
think around 10% of 0-2 teams make the playoffs

Per ChatGPT… Between the 1990 and 2018 seasons, there were 91 teams that started 0-2. Of those 91 teams, 12 made the playoffs, which means approximately 13.2% of teams that started 0-2 during this span managed to reach the postseason.

over the last three years - with the playoffs expanded by two teams - 23 teams have started 0-2

only the 2022 Bengals made the playoffs

EDIT

since the 1970 merger, 400 teams have started 0-2 and 38 made the playoffs

(less than 10%....and that doesn't included 2022 which IIRC was around 1 out of 8 or 9 teams)

sorry for the rabbit trail, let's get back to all things Cam Akers
 
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think around 10% of 0-2 teams make the playoffs

Per ChatGPT… Between the 1990 and 2018 seasons, there were 91 teams that started 0-2. Of those 91 teams, 12 made the playoffs, which means approximately 13.2% of teams that started 0-2 during this span managed to reach the postseason.
The 0-2 isn’t quite as daunting as it once was because teams now play 17 games and more importantly they added an extra wild card spot. That number will eventually rise considerably
 

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