Los Angeles Rams trade running back Cam Akers to Minnesota Vikings
The Los Angeles Rams are sending running back Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings in a deal that includes a swap of picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and a conditional draft pick.
The Vikings are the NFL's worst rushing team through the first two weeks of the season, averaging just 69 yards per game.
The Vikings hope Akers can bolster their rushing attack while adding depth behind starter Alexander Mattison. Reliever Kene Nwangwu suffered a back injury in training camp, leaving untested Ty Chandler as the primary backup behind Mattison.
The Rams selected Akers out of Florida State with a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. As a rookie in 2020, he racked up 748 yards from scrimmage, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
Akers tore his Achilles in the 2021 preseason but returned in time for the playoffs and helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI.
The pass-happy Vikings have the worst rushing attack in the NFL
Mattison struggled in his first season as a starter for the pass-happy Vikings. The Vikings have attempted just 23 rushes through their first two games of the season, a combination of their overall philosophy and the fact that they fell behind early in both games. Led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, the passing game produced 674 yards through the air, making it the second-deadliest passing offense in the NFL that season.
Dalvin Cook has been a running back for the Vikings for the past five years, but signed with the New York Jets in the preseason. Cook, a four-time All-Pro running back with the Vikings, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in four straight seasons.
When Cook left in free agency, the Vikings figured former backup Mattison could easily take over the starting role. In recent seasons, Mattison has performed well when Cook was injured, scoring 11 touchdowns as a backup.
In 2023, Mattison has yet to find his best form as a starter in the first two games of the season. He ran 19 times for 62 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. He has yet to score any touchdowns this season.
The Vikings' rushing attack suffered two losses early in the season, with Mattison unable to find his rhythm. The Vikings rushed for 41 yards in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and just 28 yards in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Angry Ax gets a second chance
Akers ran 188 times for 786 yards with the Rams in 2022, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. He scored seven rushing touchdowns in 15 games.
Akers' relationship with Rams head coach Sean McVay dates back to last season. He left the team a few weeks in the middle of the season after the Rams considered adding a veteran running back in a trade. McVay and Akers worked through their issues, and Akers returned to the lineup for the final 10 games of the 2022 season.
Akers started for the Rams in Week 1, beating the Seattle Seahawks. He rushed for just 29 yards and one score on 22 carries.Sophomore running back Kyren Williams had 52 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries.
McVay did not add a healthy Akers to the active roster in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers.
I’m just as confused as everyone else,” Akers said on social media.
"I'm very pleased with the clarity he and (his) agent David Mulugaeta provided to him on Friday and Saturday," McVay told the Los Angeles Times. "It's unfortunate, but I feel like we had a very clear conversation."
Williams, meanwhile, had 100 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns for the Rams in their Week 2 loss to the 49ers.
The Rams announced Monday they would acquire Akers. The Vikings and Rams held trade talks Wednesday.
Akers will reunite with two former Minnesota coaches after being acquired from the Vikings. Head coach Kevin O'Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips were on McVay's staff with the Rams in 2020 and 2021.
Kirk Cousins trade rumors
After the New York Jets lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers to an Achilles injury, there were rumors and rumors in Gotham City that the Jets were interested in acquiring Cousins in a trade.
Cousins' contract is expiring, and all signs point to the Vikings and Cousins going their separate ways this offseason. If the Vikings can't make the playoffs and have no interest in bringing Cousins back, it would make sense to trade before the deadline.
Graduating from college at the end of this season is a strong group of quarterbacks, including 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Bo Nix (Oregon), Michael Penix, Jr. (Washington), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Riley Leonard (Duke), Jayden Daniels (LSU), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan State) and Gavin Hardison (UTEP).
With so many prospects available, the Vikings see a possible path to selecting a new quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, Akers' trade with the Rams shows the Vikings aren't completely giving up on the season. Three of the next four games are against teams that are 0-2, including the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3, the Carolina Panthers in Week 4 and the Chicago Bears in Week 6.
Betting 0-2 Vikings
The Vikings are currently 0-2 and know they can significantly improve their playoff chances with a win over the winless Chargers in Week 3. The Chargers are tied with last season's playoff team, but the Vikings enter this season with a disappointing 0-2 record. Since the merger in 1970, only six teams have made the playoffs after an 0-3 start. The 2018 Houston Texans were the last team to fall out of the gate at 0-3 and clinch a playoff spot.
The Vikings won 13 games last season, but most of the wins were close games. They lost to the New York Giants in the playoffs and were eliminated after one game. Before the season began, oddsmakers projected the Vikings' 2023 win total at 8.5 wins/losses. Your adjusted win amount is now 7.5 o/u.
According to DraftKings, the Vikings' chances of making the playoffs are currently +260. The odds of missing the playoffs are -340.
The Vikings started the season as +290 odds to win the NFC North and +3500 odds to win the Super Bowl. After an 0-2 start, the Vikings are +7000 to win the Super Bowl and +4500 to win the NFC Championship.
The Detroit Lions (1-1) are the betting favorites to win the NFC North at -105, followed by the Green Bay Packers (1-1) at +200 and the Vikings Team odds are +500, with the Chicago Bears (0-2) +1,300.
The Vikings will host Justin Herbert and the Chargers in Week 3, both of which are winless. The betting lines fluctuated throughout the week, culminating in a few pick'em. The Vikings are currently -1 favorites against the Chargers.
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Source: www.casino.org
