What to do with Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown in Week 13 fantasy football

Game day update: It is hard to trust any Rams running back in fantasy football this season because you never know who will get the lion share of the carries. That being said, it appears as if rookie running back Cam Akers is beginning to become LA’s No. 1 RB with nine carries for 84 yards and a touchdown last week. Meanwhile, Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown had 23 yards on 13 carries combined.

This week, the Rams’ running game will be going against the Cardinals, who are allowing 17.7 fantasy points per game to opposing back this season. ESPN projects Akers to score 5.4 fantasy points, while Henderson and Brown to score 6.9 and 4.7 points.

The Rams have perhaps the most crowded backfield in the league this year, which has turned into a major headache for fantasy owners. It’s nearly impossible to predict who will receive the majority of the workload from week-to-week and red zone carries seem to be a matter of a coin toss. With so much uncertainty surrounding these running backs, are any of them worth starting in your fantasy lineup? We break down the fantasy analysis below.

Fantasy Football analysis: Rams RBs Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown

Cam Akers missed a decent chunk of this season due to a rib injury and is trying to work his way back into a more prominent role in the Rams offense. Akers received nine carries in Week 12, which was just one shy of Henderson’s 10 carries. He capitalized on his workload more than the other backs as he turned those carries into 84 yards and a touchdown to finish with 14.4 fantasy points. The Cardinals are a somewhat difficult matchup for running backs but they definitely are not a must avoid situation. Akers seems to be the most efficient back on the field and will hopefully be rewarded for that over time. Unfortunately, the fact that he must share the available carries and targets with two other backs relegates him nothing more than a low end flex consideration in Week 13.

Darrell Henderson led the team in carries in Week 12, but he was unable to do much with his opportunity. He managed only 19 yards on 10 carries to finish with 1.9 points. It remains to be seen how long the Rams will continue to give him these opportunities with Cam Akers on the rise. His inefficiency and uncertain workload make him tough to trust for fantasy purposes. It is likely best to leave Darrell Henderson on the bench this weekend.

Malcolm Brown was an afterthought in the rushing game in Week 12, as he received only three carries for four yards. He maintained a minimal role in the passing game as he had two receptions for 15 yards. His passing game involvement may be the only thing keeping him on the fantasy radar, but he is nothing more than a touchdown dependent desperation flier from week to week and you can likely find a better option. Keep him on the bench in Week 13.

Fantasy Start/Sit Recommendation

Start Cam Akers as a flex

Sit Darrell Henderson Jr.

Sit Malcolm Brown