Who steps up for the Rams?
Jourdan Rodrigue, Rams beat writer: This loss is brutal for the Rams, as Akers was poised to take over as the lead back this fall and has certainly put in the extra work to do so. The other backs on the roster are Darrell Henderson, Xavier Jones, Jake Funk and Raymond Calais.
Henderson is talented and has plenty of game experience — but durability is a big question for him, and he wasn’t fully healthy in the spring. No other backs have relevant game minutes, so the Rams may need to make a move.
If they don’t, it actually says quite a lot about their expectations for Jones, who really impressed teammates in training camp last summer and has quietly been developing since.
Fantasy implications
Jake Ciely, senior fantasy writer: Henderson is the clear replacement for Akers, and the drop-off isn’t as great as many might think. Henderson’s main issue has been health, as you don’t average 8.9 yards per carry, even in college, without being dangerous.
Henderson gets up to speed quickly with breakaway ability and great ability in the receiving game. He doesn’t crack the RB1 tier as Akers did, but he can be quite similar to D’Andre Swift.
With that in mind, Jones, Calais and the rookie, Funk, will compete for the backup role. I lean to Jones having the most upside — for now — as I could see the Rams signing a veteran (Todd Gurley return? Adrian Peterson), and whoever the backup is would likely share more of the touches than Henderson will, if Henderson were to also miss time.
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
