We have a running back trade ... just not for the Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor. The Los Angeles Rams shipped Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday for essentially the smallest price possible -- a late-round conditional pick swap three years in the future. Akers, drafted in the second round in 2020, has averaged 4.0 yards per carry on his 360 rushes for the Rams.
A trade is a trade, though, so let's break it down and grade the deal for both teams. As we always say: General managers don't get the benefit of hindsight, so we shouldn't enjoy that privilege, either. Let's judge the deal based on the information we have at the time and try to figure out which team won it.
Rams trade RB Cam Akers to Vikings
Rams get: 2026 conditional sixth-round pick
Vikings get: Akers, 2026 conditional seventh-round pick
Grade for the Vikings: B+
Even before the trade, Akers' career has been a disappointment -- in terms of both on-field production and a right Achilles injury that robbed him of most of his 2021 season. On the field, he had negative rush yards over expectation (RYOE) in every season of his career, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. He adds little in the receiving game, with just 27 regular-season receptions and one score. So why the B+ here?
The player he will compete with for playing time in Minnesota is similar: Alexander Mattison has carried the ball 19 times for 62 yards as the Vikings' lead back this season. He had negative RYOE in 2021, 2022 and through two games this season. Last season, Mattison recorded minus-42 RYOE, and Akers had minus-14.
There is one small reason for optimism with Akers, because the further he got from his Achilles injury, the more his performance improved. Starting from Week 10 of last season, he had plus-33 RYOE. Akers might be an upgrade over Mattison.
Ultimately, the price here is as low as it can go. Paying almost nothing to acquire a player who could start seems plenty fine.
Grade for the Rams: B-
I wasn't bullish on Akers' chances to be an impact player for the Rams for all the reasons I laid out above. L.A. coach Sean McVay said the team was "headed" toward trading Akers after he was a healthy inactive in Week 2. Prior to the game Sunday, Akers posted on X, "I'm just as confused as everybody else." Akers also spent time away from the team last season while it looked at options to trade him, only for him to return.
It was a little surprising it ended this way for Akers and the Rams after McVay force-fed him during the team's Super Bowl run in 2021, despite his inefficiency after returning from his injury. He rushed 67 times for just 172 yards with no touchdowns and two fumbles in those four postseason games.
With Akers gone, Kyren Williams solidifies his role as the Rams' starting back, which seemed to be the case, anyway. Williams has put up strong fantasy numbers with four touchdowns in two games, but his efficiency has been lacking. He is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry and has minus-14 RYOE.
Maybe the Rams could have gotten slightly more for Akers a week ago, before he was a healthy scratch. Then again, other teams can see his rushing inefficiency, too.