'Clear Talent' Cam Akers: Rams RB Flying Under Radar?

Entering his fourth season, Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers is flying under the radar.

Improving the rushing attack has been a consistent point of emphasis in recent years for the Los Angeles Rams, with Sean McVay realizing the importance of having a balanced offense. 

That emphasis has come to mean high expectations for running back Cam Akers, who is entering his fourth NFL season. With Akers looking to establish himself as a consistent option at the position, CBS Sports listed him in their top 50 under-the-radar players - coming in at No. 6 overall.

"The Rams are in a strange place with few remainders of the 2021 title team -- Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald chief among them," CBS Sports writes. "But with a roster full of rookies and other unproven youngsters. Akers falls somewhere in between."

Akers has shown the talent to be the lead back in the Rams' backfield throughout his career. As a rookie, he appeared in 13 games, five of which were starts, and rushed for 625 yards and two touchdowns.

He was unable to build off a strong rookie season, though, as he tore his Achilles prior to the 2021 season. While he did come back that very season and help the Rams to a Super Bowl win, he wasn't 100 percent. 

"He was the Rams' feature back during their Super Bowl run and then was on the trading block eight months later,' CBS Sports writes. "There's clear talent. He had three straight games of over 100 rushing yards to close last year. The Rams need that talent on display on a consistent basis."

Once again he showed those flashes to end last season, rushing for a combined 345 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams' final three games. As a result, Akers finished the year with 786 yards and seven touchdowns - both career highs.

This isn't necessarily a "make or break" season for Akers, but it is an opportunity to put it all together and cement himself as the lead back in Los Angeles. If he can do so, the Rams have a chance to establish their best-rushing attack since the arrival of Stafford.

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You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98

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