The Los Angeles Rams finally unleashed Cam Akers in the last two weeks, giving the rookie 50 total carries in his last two games. He had the best performance of his career against the Patriots, rushing for 171 yards in the Rams’ 24-3 victory.
The breakout performance earned him an award, with the NFL naming him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 14. Akers set career-highs in rushing yards and rushing attempts (29), gaining the seventh-most rushing yards by any player in the league this season.
Akers didn’t score a touchdown against New England, but he did find the end zone in each of his previous three games.
This is the first time Akers has won a weekly award, and he’s the sixth different Rams player to win it in 2020. Aaron Donald, Johnny Hekker, Micah Kiser, Leonard Floyd and Robert Woods all won the award this season, too.
Incredibly, Akers is the first Rams rookie to win NFC Offensive Player of the Week since Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2005, which means Todd Gurley never took home this award during his remarkable rookie season – though that year did end with NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
.@thereal_cam3 is 1st @RamsNFL rookie to win Offensive POW since Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2005. @AZCardinals LB @Haason7Reddick wins 1st POW, becomes 5th former @Temple_FB player to win.@Tress_Way wins 4th POW & 2nd this season, is 1st @WashingtonNFL P to win twice in one season. https://t.co/vgtEVjpr5w
— NFL345 (@NFL345) December 16, 2020
