The Los Angeles Rams are going to begin the defense of their Super Bowl victory on Thursday night in the 2022 season opener against the Buffalo Bills. This could very well be a preview of what to see down the road as the Bills are the odds-on favorites to win the Lombardi Trophy this season and the Rams are near the top of the betting odds as well.
There are going to be a ton of stars on the field as both teams are loaded with talent on both offense and defense. Fans couldn’t ask for much better of a matchup for opening night.
One of the things that people, especially fantasy football managers, are going to be paying attention to is how the Rams’ backfield shakes out. They have three very capable running backs in Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson and rookie Kyren Williams topping the depth chart.
There are high hopes for Akers to return to the form that he showed during the 2020 season. As a rookie, he came on at the end of the season, earning the every down role. Big things were expected heading into 2021, but Akers ruptured his Achilles during the offseason.
Miraculously, that injury didn’t keep him sidelined for the duration of the season. He returned in time to appear in the final regular season game of the season and then played in all four postseason games.
While he certainly looked rusty, it was an incredible feat that he was able to get on the field at all. Now more than a year removed from the injury, the team is hoping that he is going to return to form.
After missing two weeks during training camp with a soft-tissue injury, it sounds as if Akers is all systems go for the regular season. He sent a message to the Bills’ defense as he proclaimed himself healthy.
“I know I’m healthy,” Akers said, via Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register. “Everybody else will just get to see (Thursday). I’m not trying to go show anybody that I’m healthy. I’m just going to play my game.”
That will be a boost for the Rams’ offense if Akers looks similar to how he did in 2020. They have what could be the best passing offense in the NFL with Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson catching passes from Matthew Stafford, which should open up plenty of rushing lanes for Akers to take advantage of.
