Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers (illness), who was listed as questionable for Monday night's wild-card game in Arizona against the Los Angeles Rams, is active and will be available. Akers popped up on the injury report this week on Saturday due to an illness and did not practice, but he's feeling better on Monday and should serve in his usual role as a change-of-pace option in Minnesota's backfield behind starter Aaron Jones. The 25-year-old will be a touchdown-dependent flex play, at best, against his former team in this one. Akers started the 2024 season with the Houston Texans before being acquired by the Vikings. In his 12 games in Minnesota this year, Akers has averaged 4.6 yards per carry and 5.3 rushing attempts per game, adding 297 rushing yards and three total TDs (two receiving). Unless Jones is hurt mid-game, Akers carries limited fantasy upside as the RB2.
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers (illness) is officially questionable to play in the Wild Card playoff game on Monday against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Minnesota's final injury report of the week. He appeared on the injury report Friday, but Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Saturday that he expects the backup running back to be available come Monday. The veteran compiled 69 total yards last week at Detroit, his most productive game of the season, and figures to once again be the second man out of the Minnesota backfield behind starter Aaron Jones. But with a low volume of carries expected, Akers is a low-end RB2 for managers in playoff leagues.
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers rushed six times for 65 yards in Sunday's 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions. Akers had a long rush of 58 yards -- breaking free early in the third quarter to bring Minnesota inside the Lions' five-yard line. However, the drive would stall, and they'd turn it over on downs. Otherwise, he gained only seven yards on his other five carries against a Lions defense out to prove a point in the season finale. Backfield mate Aaron Jones was sidelined for a bit in this one, but no injury was reported. If Jones is forced to miss time, the 25-year-old would be the next man up, and projects to command the lion's share of the team's backfield touches. It'd be wise to keep an eye on Jones' practice status this week as the team prepares for a Wild Card bout with the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
With Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quad) off the Week 18 injury report, backup Cam Akers is not a starting option against the Detroit Lions. Though the veteran has become Minnesota's clear second option out of the backfield and scored touchdowns in two of the past three weeks, he has recorded fewer than 40 rushing yards in eight straight games. With only six catches during that time frame, Akers simply isn't getting enough volume to be trustworthy in the Vikings' most important game of the regular season. Managers in formats that play Week 18 should look for another option at running back.
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers should not be started in this Sunday's divisional tilt against the visiting Green Bay Packers. The 25-year-old's workload has mostly been contingent on game script and the health of backfield mate Aaron Jones in 2024. Akers had gotten some extended run when Jones was dinged up or the game was safely at hand. However, this season, he's been less effective with a larger rush share. Since his move to Minnesota, the Florida State product has yet to run for more than 2.9 yards per carry when he receives ten or more attempts. This starkly contrasts the 6.68 he's averaged over the other 19 carries. The Vikings' meeting with Green Bay projects to be a good one, as both teams are vying for playoff spots -- so Akers does not figure to see an increase in workload unless Jones misses snaps or is loose with the football. He comes in as RotoBaller's PPR RB52 ahead of this week's slate of action.
Cam Akers To Be Safely Avoided For Fantasy Semi-Finals
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers remains strictly a handcuff option for this Sunday's road clash with the Seattle Seahawks. Akers scored a touchdown on ten carries (his most in a game since Week 11), rushing for 24 yards in last weekend's 30-12 rout of the Bears. Still, he picked up most of his work on the Vikings' final few drives and was inefficient with his touches. The 25-year-old hasn't garnered a target since Week 12 and hasn't played more than 32% of snaps since joining the team. With lead-back Aaron Jones dominating backfield touches, the Florida State product will not be a recommended option in Week 16. Akers comes in as RotoBaller's PPR RB48 in this week's rankings.
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers rushed 10 times for 24 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's 30-12 win over the Chicago Bears. He was not targeted in the passing game. The former Florida State Seminole didn't see his first touch until the second quarter -- garnering three on that drive -- and did most of his work with the game comfortably in hand. Akers' long run of the day was a gain of 11, and his TD was a one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter that gave the Vikings a 27-6 lead. The 25-year-old saw his most carries since Week 11, but his efficiency was way down (2.4 yards per carry) against a beatable Bears defense. With backfield mate Aaron Jones exhibiting a stranglehold on the lead-back job, Akers will retain his handcuff status for next weekend's road tilt with the Seattle Seahawks.
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers rushed for 37 yards on five carries during Sunday's Week 14 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He also had a 24-yard kick return. Akers averaged an impressive 7.4 yards per carry in the victory, although that number was skewed by a 25-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. He also logged his second-highest snap share (32 percent) since Week 5. On a less positive note, the 25-year-old was held without a target in the passing game for the second week in a row. Akers has firmly established himself as the Vikings' No. 2 running back behind Aaron Jones, but he's merely a handcuff and should be benched in all fantasy leagues for the time being.
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers will not be a recommended fantasy option this weekend when he squares off against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons' defense has been vulnerable to their opponents' air attacks this season but a bit more unforgiving on the ground. Despite allowing the fifth-most receptions to running backs in 2024 (70), Atlanta is letting up just 20.7 fantasy points per game to the position -- the ninth-fewest. Additionally, Akers has seen just four touches in each of the last two weeks and is back to a decreased role in Minnesota's offense. With a tough matchup on tap and a declining role in the offense, fantasy managers can't trust him. The 25-year-old is RotoBaller's PPR RB42 in this week's ranks.
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers shouldn't be relied on as a viable source of fantasy output this Sunday when he takes on the Arizona Cardinals. Akers looked like he was trending toward commanding a larger share of the workload, but it appeared to be for just a few games as backfield mate Aaron Jones battled through an injury. Last week, in the team's win over the Chicago Bears, Jones garnered all but four of Minnesota's 29 backfield touches. The lead back is again primed for another productive day against a Cardinals squad letting up 24.6 fantasy points per game to running backs -- the tenth-most in the league. With Jones back to dominating touches in the Vikings' offense, the 25-year-old is again relegated to handcuff or deep-league-stash status. Akers is RotoBaller's PPR RB51 in this week's rankings.
