When the LA Rams released Todd Gurley, many saw it as an acceptable risk to part ways with a former star with waning production, despite relatively little in savings. When the Rams then used their first pick on a running back, one year after using a third round pick on Darrell Henderson, fear of an over-emphasis of the position crept in for some, while others simply preferred a different running back.
Les Snead selected Cam Akers with the 52nd overall pick, ignoring outdated beliefs that running backs don’t matter and conceding that Henderson was mostly like a complementary player at best.