Cam Akers

Joe Mixon’s ankle came back clean from the MRI, but is questionable for Week 3. Fantasy managers would be sharp to pick up Cam Akers in case Mixon is not good to go Week 3.

The troubling part for this Texans backfield is that Dameon Pierce, second on the depth chart, missed week 2’s game With an injury himself, leaving Cam Akers as the next man up.

Akers himself has dealt with numerous injuries over the course of his career. Dare Ogunbowale is also on the Houston Texans roster and might get an increase in touches. However, Akers projects as the most likely candidate to handle early down & distance scenarios.

This is a murky situation, but Akers’ range of outcomes includes a volume RB2 fantasy output on a good Texans offense.

Starting with the running back room, the Texans chose to cut Jawhar Jordan and keep Cam Akers on the team. Akers shined in the preseason and Dameon Pierce struggled, so there’s ambiguity behind Mixon on who will be the RB2. This uncertainty makes Akers worth rostering in deeper leagues.

The Texans wide receiver room had some significant cuts in the form of Noah Brown and Ben Skowronek. This leaves John Metchie along with Xavier Hutchinson as the two receivers who will complete for playing time behind Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell. Those big 3 make Metchie and Hutchinson players who shouldn’t be considered fantasy relevant outside of injuries taking place.

The tight end room also had an interesting move with Teagan Quitoriano being cut, which gives Cade Stover an easier route to seeing the field in 2024. While Stover will be behind Dalton Schultz and battling Brevin Jordan for playing time to start the season, he has history with C.J. Stroud from Ohio State and is a must-roster in dynasty leagues.

Just when Cam Akers was starting to emerge back to fantasy relevance, he suffered the second torn Achilles of his career in Minnesota’s week 9 win against the Falcons last season. After tearing his right Achilles with the Rams back in 2021, Akers is no stranger to recovering from this injury- this time to his left. Doctors still consider suffering a second Achilles tear to be career-threatening, even with the previous tear happening to his other leg.

Akers has shown great resolve demonstrating the ability to earn a contract with a NFL team. He’s not expected to see the field much behind bell cow Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce as the RB2. Akers is expected to challenge Jahwar Jordan for the RB3 role in Houston, which makes neither Akers or Jordan appealing from a fantasy perspective.

Just when Akers was starting to emerge back to fantasy relevance, his season is now over after suffering a torn left Achilles in week 9. After tearing his right Achilles with the Rams back in 2021, Akers is no stranger to recovering from this injury. Doctors still consider suffering a second Achilles tear to be career-threatening even with the previous tear happening to his other leg.

Alexander Mattison reclaims his role as the unquestioned starter with Akers’ injury. Ty Chandler is expected to be the RB2 for the Vikings going forward. While they haven’t given up on him yet, the Vikings have every reason to look for other options after Mattison has averaged a miserable 3.5 ypc this season. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should add Ty Chandler and wait to see how this backfield shakes out over the next few weeks.