With J.K. Dobbins still on the board, the Los Angeles Rams opted to select Cam Akers out of Florida State with the 52nd overall pick in the draft. Fans were stunned, not only because of the team’s decision to draft a running back with its first pick, but also because Dobbins wasn’t the name called by Roger Goodell.
Akers is undoubtedly a talented player and despite being thrown into a committee backfield, the oddsmakers give him a decent chance to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. According to BetMGM, Akers has the 14th-best odds to win the award at +2500.
That line means if you bet $100 on Akers, you stand to win $2,500 if he’s named Rookie of the Year. The favorite to win the award is unsurprisingly Joe Burrow at +200, followed by D’Andre Swift (+850) and Tua Tagovailoa (+900).
Dobbins, who was taken three picks after Akers by the Baltimore Ravens, has the 10th-best odds to win Rookie of the Year (+2000).
Akers has all the makings of a three-down back who can contribute right away. He has the size and strength to be a workhorse, but also the speed and receiving ability to create big plays. Pro Football Focus expects him to be productive as a rookie, projecting him to rush for 895 yards and six touchdowns in 2020.
If those numbers were to hold true, it’d likely mean Darrell Henderson’s season didn’t go so well. The two will share duties in the backfield, along with Malcolm Brown, but it’s possible Akers handles first and second down, with Henderson playing a change-of-pace role on third down.
Sean McVay wouldn’t say how the split will play out, but it will certainly be an interesting situation to watch next season.
