The biggest question surrounding the Rams entering this season – at least for fantasy owners – is who will get the bulk of the carries at running back. Will it be the rising rookie Cam Akers? Will Malcolm Brown’s experience earn him the most playing time? Is Darrell Henderson more than just a change-of-pace guy?
We don’t know the answers to those questions right now, and we may not for a few weeks. Sean McVay has been tight-lipped on the entire discussion, not wanting to tip his hand in any way, shape, or form.
Les Snead also isn’t giving anything away, but he was on the “Rich Eisen Show” Thursday and was asked about how the backfield will play out. He didn’t reveal anything definitively, but it sounds like Akers and Brown will get the first crack at the RB1 spot, with Henderson mixing in as a third option when he’s healthy.
“I think the running game is still to be determined,” Snead said. “What we do know is we really like where Cam’s at and he’s ready to roll, even with no offseason. We know we have a very, very stable veteran that stabilizes that room who’s been very successful for us. Probably had some of the more tough yards since 2017 for us in those four-minute situations – that’s when you’re trying to close out a game and basically everybody in the stands and everybody on television knows you’re trying to run out the clock and the running back’s getting the ball – he’s been successful there. So I think between those two, mix in D-Henderson when he does get healthy and go from there.
“So at this point, committee approach and usually from there, there will be either a hot hand or someone who proves that, you know what, ‘Hand me the ball more than the next guy.’ So that’s still to be determined, but we do like that approach.”
While he didn’t say much about Akers, his acknowledgment that the Rams like where he’s at right now is telling – and simply that he was the first running back brought up by Snead. It’s a good sign for the rookie, who the Rams have brought along quickly in a truncated training camp.
Even more interesting, he mentioned Brown’s work as a closer and in short-yardage situations. Could it be that the Rams are going to use Akers early in games and let him get in a bunch of work before shifting more toward Brown to close out contests? And will Brown poach goal line carries from Akers in the red zone?
We won’t know until the games actually begin, and even then their roles could change from week to week. But one thing is clear: Akers and Brown appear to be ahead of Henderson at this point in the process.