Jerome Ford

Jerome Ford filled in admirably for the Cleveland Browns after Chubb exited. He showed explosiveness and vision and was a threat in the passing game. Even though he looked the part in relief, can he handle the full-time role?

That’s tough to say as we haven’t yet seen Ford handle more than 16 carries in a game (which came on Monday night). That said, if they stay with Ford they wouldn’t have to give up any draft picks or take a hit against their cap.

Kareem Hunt

Update: Hunt has signed a one-year deal with the Browns worth up to $4 million.

Kareem Hunt is still a free agent which is somewhat surprising. Hunt is still only 28 years old and was productive in 2022 backing up Chubb. The fact that he is still available leads me to believe his asking price is too high for teams to pull the trigger. If that’s the case would he take less money to return to Cleveland?

Possibly, now that he knows he can handle the majority of the carries. Like Ford though Hunt’s most carries in a game in 2022 was 13. If Hunt was signed we would most likely see a mix of him and Ford.

Cam Akers

Cam Akers is once again in Sean McVay’s dog house and this time it looks like the Rams are ready to trade him. I like the fit here with Akers in the Browns offense and there are rumors they have interest. Akers would likely cost a mid-round draft pick and the Browns have 8 total picks next year.

I could see the Rams letting Akers go for a 5th or possibly a 6th and the Browns have two of each. Even in an up-and-down 2022 Akers had 7 rushing touchdowns and 786 rushing yards. At 24, Akers still has plenty to offer if he goes to the right situation.

The post Running Back Options for the Cleveland Browns appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Arizona Cardinals: TE Zach Ertz [ADP: 154.6]

When healthy, Zach Ertz was one of the best TEs in football last season. He was consistently getting double-digit FPs from his looks from Kyler Murray. From Week 11 onwards, he was out for the season due to injury. Now, Arizona will not have Kyler as he tore his ACL so Colt McCoy will take the helm. Without Hopkins, there will be more opportunities for the other receivers. If Ertz can bounce back, he can have a sneaky good year for whoever picks him.

Los Angeles Rams: RB Cam Akers [ADP: 85.8]

The Los Angeles Rams had a disastrous season with multiple injuries and inconsistency hurting the team. With the team in a half-rebuild, one of the people who can lead the team is Cam Akers. He will lead the team in the backfield and end the year strong. He ran for over 100 yards in his last three games and he hopes to build on it the next season. Look for Akers to have a strong year.

San Francisco 49ers: WR Brandon Aiyuk [ADP: 89.9]

Brandon Aiyuk is often forgotten when talking about San Francisco’s offense. He led the team in catches and receiving yards. With the 49ers having a strong offense every year, Aiyuk at this ADP is a steal. He has improved his numbers every year and reached over 1000 receiving yards in 2022. The only uncertainty is the 49ers QB as we still don’t know who will be the man in charge.

Seattle Seahawks: QB Geno Smith [ADP: 52.8]

Geno Smith had a bounce-back season for the ages as he led the Seahawks above all expectations. He threw for 4282 yards and 30 TDs as he brought the team to the playoffs. The Seahawks QB ended the year fifth among all QBs and 13th overall in fantasy football. Now, his ADP is 52.8 or a fourth-round pick. With another year in Seattle and the team drafting Jaxson Smith-Njigba, he looks prime for another great year.

The post NFC West: Biggest Fantasy Sleepers appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

QB DAWG Of The Week: Sam Darnold 21.90 FP

250 Passing Yards, 1 Passing TD, 1 6 Carries, 19 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD (Projected: 12.26 FP)

Sam Darnold put in a solid performance to lead the Panthers to an upset victory over the Detroit Lions. The Panthers QB played his best game of the year when he threw for 250 yards and a TD to D.J. Moore. He also rushed in for a TD. The run game helped set the pace for the Panthers and made Darnold comfortable. Carolina is just a game back from the division lead as they face Tampa Bay in Week 17.

RB DAWG Of The Week: Cam Akers 34.70 FP

23 Carries, 118 Rushing Yards, 3 Rushing TDs, 2 Receptions, 29 Receiving Yards (Projected: 8.99 FP)

Cam Akers saved his fantasy owners with a performance for the ages. The Rams RB ran for 118 yards and three rushing TDs in a blowout victory over the Broncos. The LA Rams have interesting pieces for next year and Cam Akers looks to be the RB 1 next year.

WR DAWG Of The Week: Kendrick Bourne 24.90 FP

6 Receptions, 100 Receiving Yards, 1 Receiving TD, 1 Carry, 29 Rushing Yards (Projected: 2.87 FP)

Kendrick Bourne shocked everyone as he was the best WR in terms of overcoming fantasy projections this week. Bourne caught six passes 100 yards and a TD. He also had a run for 29 yards. Injuries to DeVante Parker and Hunter Henry gave him an opportunity to shine. He will need a repeat performance to help the Patriots against the Dolphins next week.

TE DAWG Of The Week: T.J. Hockenson 35.90 FP

13 Receptions, 109 Receiving Yards, 2 Receiving TDs (Projected: 12.43 FP)

T.J. Hockenson led all fantasy players this week with an amazing performance against the New York Giants. The big trade deadline acquisition caught 13 balls for 109 yards and two TDs. His move to the Vikings has been a blessing, especially with Kirk Cousins passing the rock around. He has a date with the Packers in Week 17.

DEF/ST DAWG Of The Week: Los Angeles Rams 21 FP

14-20 Points Allowed, 1 Defense TD, 4 Interceptions, 6 Sacks (Projected: 8.11 FP)

On Christmas, the Los Angeles Rams sent Nathaniel Hackett home with a dominating performance that shocked the NFL world. Cobie Durant took a pick-6 to the house as the final score. Larrell Murchison led the way with two sacks. Jalen Ramsey and Bobby Wagner each had a sack. Wagner’s interception even made Patrick Star laugh at Russell Wilson. This win basically ended the Denver Broncos season.

Thanks for reading! You can look forward to this series until the end of the season. You can check out the last installment of DAWGS Of Week 15.

The post DAWGS Of Week 16 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

QB DAWG Of The Week: Tyler Huntley 16.58 FP

187 Passing Yards, 1 Interception, 10 Carries, 41 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD (Projected: 0 FP)

Tyler Huntley stepped up with Lamar Jackson going down with an knee injury in the win over Denver. Huntley completed 27 of 32 passes for 187 yards. He also rushed for 41 yards, including the game-winning TD. With Lamar most likely unavailable next week, look for Huntley to start at least one more game.

RB DAWG Of The Week: Cam Akers 19 FP

17 Carries, 60 Rushing Yards, 2 Rushing TD, 1 Reception (Projected: 5.97 FP)

Cam Akers surprisingly led the way for the Rams backfield against the Seahawks. Akers rushed for 60 yards and two TDs. After four bad games in a row, this play surprised everyone. Even with this performance, it’s very difficult to trust the Rams and Akers.

WR DAWG Of The Week: Davante Adams 37.70 FP

8 Receptions, 177 Receiving Yards, 2 Receiving TDs (Projected: 20.86 FP)

The top fantasy performer of the week goes to Davante Adams. Davante was unstoppable in the game against the Chargers as he had eight receptions for 177 yards and two TDs. His 177 yards is the highest he has had in a Raiders jersey. In the last five games, he has 4 games with at least one TD and 3 games with at least 2 TDs. He has a date with Jalen Ramsey next week.

TE DAWG Of The Week: Cade Otton 14.80 FP

6 Receptions, 28 Receiving Yards, 1 Receiving TD (Projected: 5.36 FP)

Has Tom found his new TE? Cade Otton, the rookie, stepped up in the comeback win of Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers TE caught six passes for 28 yards and a TD. When his snap percentage his above 80%, his production leads to 10+ FP in four out of five games. He can be a sneaky pickup for teams needing a TE in the playoffs.

DEF/ST DAWG Of The Week: Cleveland Browns 31 FP

7-13 Points Allowed, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Special Teams Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery, 2 Defense TDs, 2 Interceptions, 1 Special Teams Fumble Recovery, 1 Special Teams TD (Projected: 9.13 FP)

Start the defense that will play the Houston Texans until the finals. Cleveland scored 31 FP and accounted for 3 TDs in their 27-14 win. Donovan Peoples-Jones started with a 76-yard punt return TD that got the Browns on the board in the 2^nd quarter. In the 3^rd quarter, Kyle Allen fumbled and the ball was picked up by Denzel Ward for a TD. Last, Tony Fields had a pick-6 to seal the game. This was a big win for the Browns to keep them in the playoff hunt.

Thanks for reading! You can look forward to this series until the end of the season. You can check out the last installment of DAWGS Of Week 11.

The post DAWGS of Week 13 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams flexed their talent at quarterback (with Matthew Stafford) and wide receiver (with Cooper Kupp) in 2021, but they were missing a key ingredient at running back. Cam Akers, who recorded 625 yds in 2020, sadly tore his Achilles in the 2021 training camp. His injury caused him to miss 16 games last season. It’s safe to say that Sean McVay is thankful to have his talented running back healthy and ready to unleash havoc moving forward.

The Rams had the 25th-ranked rushing attack last season — after having the 10th-ranked rushing offense in 2020. The Rams should be able to have at least a middle-of-the-pack rushing attack next season.

Akers recently turned 23 years old and he should be a pivotal RB1 for LA for many years to come. He will be joined by Darrell Henderson Jr. — who had a modest 688 rushing yds, 4.6 YPC, and 5 rushing TDs last season. He ehad a 68.7 grade by PFF.

After the top two RBs, they have Kyren Williams and Jake Funk. Williams is a fifth-round draft pick out of Notre Dame. His best season came in his sophomore season — where he unveiled 1,125 rushing yds, 5.3 YPC, and 13 rushing TDs. He still had a superb junior season, as he notched 1,002 rushing yds, 4.9 YPC, and 14 rushing TDs. Funk is a seventh-round draft pick out of the 2021 NFL Draft. He only had five rushing yds last season, but he could have a larger role in 2022 if one of the top two RBs has an injury.

With that said, it wouldn’t be a complete surprise if the genius Sean McVay brought in another RB. He has a strong taste for acquiring offensive firepower — regardless of the current talent on offense.

The post Los Angeles Rams running back outlook right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams may have had fireworks on offense under Sean McVay, but they also really leaned on their defense to upend the likes of Tom Brady and Joe Burrow in the recent post-season gauntlet. Well, the Rams will miss the future Hall of Famer Von Miller (2 sacks in Super Bowl LVI), who left for Buffalo in free agency. Nonetheless, I still love the Rams direction on defense (and on offense) this off-season and I’m going to untwine three reasons why their defense will really improve in 2022.

Improved rushing attack

It’s exciting when the Matthew Stafford-Cooper Kupp connection can be utterly explosive in the passing game, but it’s also crucial to have a strong, balanced offensive attack. The Rams ranked 25th in rushing yards last season and they are happy to witness a healthy Cam Akers moving forward. Cynthia Frelund of NFL Network listed Akers as one of the NFL’s most underappreciated players.

The explosive RB will not only seek to reach the end zone frequently, but he will also slowly break down opposing defenses and help the Rams time of possession. The Rams ranked 20th in TOP last season, while the Buffalo Bills ranked fifth in TOP (and coincidentally yielded the best defense in YPG allowed). A well-rested AD will thank Akers and the Rams offense.

Bobby Wagner

Let’s be honest – the Rams have a new legend at LB in Bobby Wagner. He has made the Pro Bowl in each season between 2014 and 2021. Furthermore, he made five straight All-Pro teams between 2015 and 2020. He also has only missed two games in his past six seasons. He will seek to propel a Rams-run defense that actually ranked sixth in rushing yards allowed last season — so, there is no reason that the Rams defense doesn’t edge out defensive units like the Ravens and Saints for the best-run defense with the Donald-Wagner tandem leading the charge. Wagner signed a five-year contract worth $50 million with a Rams team that he previously despised.

Justin Hollins

The Rams will clearly have Leonard Floyd (20 sacks in the past two seasons combined), but they will certainly ask Justin Hollins to elevate his performance (as he will ideally be the new OLB starter). Hollins learned a lot under Von Miller and he feels very energized about the increase in opportunities in 2022. Cole Thompson from the Rams Digest outlines that the 6’5 pass rusher could breakout next season. Thompson talks about how he made flashes in his third season, that Hollins has developed a stronger football IQ, and that 2022 will be his contract season. The other OLB I expect to turn heads on occasion (at least) is Chris Garrett, who was a D2 legend at Concordia St. Paul, and he could be an x-factor in his sophomore season.

The post 3 reasons why the LA Rams defense could really improve in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams missed the presence of Cam Akers last season, but the cyborg RB returned healthy for the playoff gauntlet. The Rams starting RB didn’t quite lift off in the playoffs, as he averaged 2.6 yards per carry and registered zero touchdowns. Nonetheless, there are still sky-high expectations for the special athlete in a Rams uniform.

The Rams ball-carrier that recently switched his jersey number to “3” is 22 years old (23 years old in June) is expected to be a major factor in the Rams dream team offense for at least a few seasons. Akers had a modest rookie season (625 yards and 4.3 YPC in 13 games), but he was still scratching his surface in a crowded backfield. His upside is more robust with a bigger role in Sean McVay’s offensive attack.

Cam Akers has a fine floor in the Rams offense, as McVay’s patience picks him to be the bell-cow RB moving forward. It’s worth noting that Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown combined for 246 rushing attempts in his rookie season. I absolutely expect the healthier RB to be leaned on his third season. His divisional competition will also be weaker. The Seahawks witnessed Bobby Wagner turn to the dark side and join the Rams, while Carlos Dunlap (8.5 sacks in 2021) is out of a Seahawks uniform at the moment. The Arizona Cardinals failed to retain their top defender in Chandler Jones, too.

The ceiling of Akers could be scary, to be honest. If the hungry RB can show fresh legs in his potentially second full season of performance, he should keep climbing the ladder in prominence. The Rams RB1 is currently listed as the 12th ranked RB in dynasty PPR (ahead of Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry). It’s clear that FF managers are static about the potential of Akers right now. The former Rams RB Todd Gurley won Offensive Player of The Year and Kupp blew everybody’s mind by eventually winning OPOY. Could Akers really be McVay’s next weapon to win the very prestigious OPOY award?

The post Cam Akers’s dynasty outlook 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Chris Moore (Twitter: @fantasy_moore)

2021 Season

The Rams have been one of the best teams in the NFC this year and look like possible Super Bowl contenders. Even with one of their top offensive players Cam Akers out most of the year. The Rams still have a top 10 offensive unit and have found success running the ball thanks to veteran running back Sony Michel. Michel has found success on the ground ever since he took over as the bell cow a few weeks ago. While the Rams have had a top offensive unit this season, and Michel has done a great job over the past few weeks. Cam Akers elevates the Rams to a different level when he’s in the lineup.

Running Game

Michel has taken over the Rams backfield and has done a great job since becoming the bell cow. Michel rushed for 497 yards over the past five weeks when he was designated the starter. But the Rams remain 24th in the league for rushing yards over the season. If the Rams want to be a Super Bowl contender, they need to rely more on the rushing game. We have already seen this season teams have had success beating the Rams when they get away from the run. Mathew Stafford and the offense is rolling when they incorporate the run game into their offense. It’s crucial they get their star running back Cam Akers back. Akers was a star for the Rams in the playoffs last year, rushing for 221 yards and two touchdowns in their two playoff games. Akers was a big part of why the Rams made it to the NFC Divisional Playoffs, and he will be a huge factor to the team if the Rams get Akers back heading into the playoffs this year.

Potential Return

While we don’t know what Akers will look like when he steps back onto the field. If he is the same player from last year, the Rams’ offense will be even better. Add a runner like Akers to an already top offensive unit, and the Rams could do some damage in the playoffs. While the Packers look like they are on a different level in the NFC, Akers could give the Rams the extra boost they need to be on par with the top team in the NFC.

He will be pivotal against the 49ers in Week 18. He is facing a team that has had the Rams number to say the least. They have stunned the Rams five times in a row. Check this stat out. The Rams have not had a 100 yard rusher in their five game losing streak to the 49ers. Well, when was the last time they had a 100 yard rusher? It was none other than the last time they beat the 49ers, where CJ Anderson ran angry for 132 yards and the Rams controlled the game with ease.

The post Why Cam Akers is the Rams key in Week 18 and why he can take the rams to the next level appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Daniel Racz @Danny___Dimes  

Introduction

A perfect storm was brewing for Cam Akers in 2021. A solid offensive line, an improved quarterback and an assumed three-down role. Sadly, Akers tore his Achilles during a pre-training camp practice. The Rams’ current backfield consists of Darrell Henderson Jr., Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais, Otis Anderson, and Jake Funt. Though the Rams’ front office and head coach Sean McVay have said that they do not plan to immediately bring in more competition, it is unlikely that the room remains the same throughout the offseason.

The current free agent options are serviceable at best, but the Rams will need to go bargain hunting to piece together a competent running back room. Though none of the available players are uber-athletic, there are experienced veterans and pass catchers that could be of use to the Rams.

Duke Johnson

Duke Johnson Jr. has no business sitting in free agency while running backs like Carlos Hyde and Devontae Booker have defined roles. Since entering the league, Johnson has totaled over 300 receptions and almost 3,000 receiving yards out of the backfield.

If the Rams were to sign Johnson, it would be as a complementary piece in their committee. Darrell Henderson has not been used as a pass-catcher with the Rams, so signing Johnson would give them an impact player in the passing game. Johnson’s 4.51 speed on his 210-pound frame is nothing more than average, but the Rams should be thrilled with league-average production right now.

Adrian Peterson

AP is quietly still a capable running back. In his past three seasons, he has totaled over 2,500 yards on the ground and 450 yards as a receiver. Peterson also has 20 total touchdowns since 2018. Peterson ranked 13th in yards created per touch and 31st in evaded tackles last year, per player profile. Though these metrics are not anything special, Peterson has proved that he still has enough juice left in the tank. 

The Rams can deploy Peterson on any down and trust him to be a willing pass protector. AP’s experience across over a decade in the league is invaluable, and he could benefit the franchise more than any other free agent. 

Todd Gurley

The divorce between the Los Angeles Rams and Todd Gurley was ugly. Gurley even claimed that some of his game checks were not delivered. All that said, the Rams bringing in Todd Gurley makes too much sense, if Gurley is open to a reunion. The Rams would love a running back that has a deep knowledge of their system, like Gurley. The comfort level that Gurley has with coach McVay’s system is an immediate bonus. 

Gurley is no longer an elite running back. However, it has been demonstrated that teams can win games without high-end backs. The Chiefs won a super bowl with Damien Williams as their lead back in 2019 and the Buccaneers won in 2020 with Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones. Gurley, Darrell Henderson, and Raymond Calais would be one of the worst running back rooms in the league, but it just might be enough to get by.

The post Best free-agent running back replacements for Cam Akers appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Dave Stewart (Twitter: @davefantasy)

So, the 2020 fantasy football season has wrapped and the NFL playoffs are underway. If your fantasy involvement is strictly redrafted only, you have loads of time to kill before you really need to get down to draft preparation.

For the dynasty diehards though, the wheels are already in motion, working to improve the roster or gather valuable draft picks ahead of the rookie draft. This is the perfect time for evaluation and acquisition of rising prospects, so you can get out ahead of other managers in your league.

Identifying players who are on the rise is not always easy and the information that you use is important. All It takes is a little time on Twitter to find an argument between the analytic audience and the film grinders about which method is best.

Personally, I find it requires a combination of the two. I do like to pore over statistics, but for me, if the player does not pop on film, I have a tendency to be skeptical.

Cam Akers

One particular player that has my attention is Cam Akers. Akers saw a larger workload in the second half of the season and he took advantage of it. Working behind Darrell Henderson for much of the year, Akers did not see double-digit carries in any game until week 10.

He appeared to hit his stride in week 12 against San Francisco, where he took 9 carries for 84 yards and cashed in a 4th quarter touchdown. The entire touchdown drive consisted of three Akers carries for 68 yards.

From week 12 on, he carried the ball 95 times for 424 yards and he did not play in week 16. Last Saturday, Akers put on a show against Seattle in the Wild Card round with 176 total yards and 2 touchdowns. He rushed with power against the Seahawks, indicative of what he has done this season.

Of his 625 rushing yards, 304 came after contact, equalling 48.6% of his total yardage. Short and squat, he is not easy to bring down and has developed a reputation for finishing the run.

The more the Rams put on his plate, the more Akers seems to rise to the challenge. This definitely bodes well for the 2021 season. The larger share of the pie he can get, the better it is for his potential production, obviously.

Akers has carried the ball more than 20 times in four of his last five games. An interesting development has been his role in the passing game. Akers has not been a focus in the passing game, by any definition.

He had only 11 receptions on the year, but seven came in his final three regular-season games. He had five first downs through the air, indicating they are looking to him in critical down and distances. Improvement in pass protection has led to his ability to remain on the field on third down.

Prior to the season, running backs coach, Thomas Brown, confirmed that he believed Akers would eventually become an every-down back. Another factor leading to a positive 2021 outlook for Akers is the likelihood of reduced competition for touches.

Although Henderson will be back with the Rams, Malcolm Brown is an unrestricted free agent and could be moving on. If Akers continues with the type of workload he has had over the last five games, he will be looking at 15 or more carries per game. His increased time on the field on third down should lead to an increase in receptions, as well.

Given this information, Akers figures as a high-end RB2, if not a low-end RB1 for the 2021 season. Although his value is on the rise, I cannot see it being lower than what it currently is. The time to strike in a trade for Akers is at present. If you are doing a startup draft soon, he should be an early round target. He has a bright future in Los Angeles.

The post Dynasty Outlook: Cam Akers appeared first on Pro Football Mania.