Big news breaking this afternoon that the Los Angeles Rams have released running back Darrell Henderson ahead of their Week 12 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

With the fantasy football waiver wire hitting tonight for most leagues ahead of the Thanksgiving Day games on Thursday and the fantasy football playoffs right around the corner this move is likely to be impacting some fantasy football rosters. With Henderson now out of Los Angeles what does this mean for the Rams backfield and who becomes the running back to own in fantasy? The obvious answer is Cam Akers but Kyren Williams also looms.  Does that mean Akers or Williams is a must roster for fantasy football? Let's break down the Rams offense and their running back situation. 

 

 

Cam Akers or Kyren Williams  to Take Over Lead Running Back Role for the Los Angeles Rams

Let's take a look at the more obvious choice to replace Darrell Henderson in the Rams backfield and that is Cam Akers. Akers actually led the Rams backfield in Week 11 against the Saints, totaling 61 yards on 14 carries. Kyren Williams carried the ball seven times for 36 yards while adding one catch for eight yards. Newly released Darrell Henderson saw just two carries for nine yards. Henderson had a rushing touchdown in Week 10 and tied for the team lead with six carries in that game, same as Akers while Williams had just one carry for nine yards but added three catches for 30 yards. 

It has been a pretty odd season for Akers given his early season struggles, trade request and then subsequent benching by the team only for him not to be traded and now in line to be the starting running back for this Rams offense.  Akers, pre-injury, was looking like a breakout candidate after the team drafted him in the second-round in 2020.  Akers has the ability to be a three-down back but his achilles injury last season has really derailed his career to this point. 

With Kyren Williams it looks as though he is going to be used as a change of pace and pass catching back. Williams was a fifth round pick this season by the Rams out of Notre Dame. If Akers continues to struggle he could also get some opportunities to take this starting job. The Rams season is largely over with their record sitting at 3-7 so it would make sense for the coaching staff to start giving looks to guys who may impact their roster moving forward and into next season.

For current fantasy purposes I think both are flex plays and worth adding off of the waiver wire with Akers the likely more valuable pick-up at this very moment.

 

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