Cam Akers trade grades: Vikings can't quit backup RB, who Texans don't need anymore

Cam Akers is the once and future Viking.

Akers, 25, who was traded from the Rams to the Vikings during the 2023 season, was traded from the Texans to the Vikings in the 2024 season.

With Aaron Jones week-to-week with a hip injury before the Week 6 bye, Minnesota needed more help at running back behind Ty Chandler. Akers should jump fourth-stringer Myles Gaskin on the depth chart to provide a boost.

Last season, Akers was dealt to the Vikings when they needed some help behind Alexander Mattison, with Dalvin Cook gone and Chandler and Kene Nwangwu as the other backs. Mattison is now the default lead back for the Raiders, while Nwangwu is on the Jets' practice squad.

The commonality is Chandler, whom coach Kevin O'Connell doesn't seem to trust as a No. 2. Here's breaking down O'Connell's latest reunion with Akers, following on their previous meetups with the Vikings and with the Rams.

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Cam Akers trade grades

Vikings receive:

• RB Cam Akers
• 2026 conditional seventh-round pick

Texans receive:

• 2026 conditional sixth-round pick

Vikings grade: D

Let's hope Chandler and Akers get along. The Vikings, despite not having faith in the former, continue to keep him. But they still went after Akers, who the team could have re-signed as a free agent in the offseason.

The 25-year-old running back was available in the 2024 offseason until July 21, when the Texans signed him for depth.

Akers didn't look good filling in for Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce, with Dare Ogunbowale being the more effective all-around fill-in. Now that Mixon and Pierce are healthy and looking good as a 1-2 punch for Houston, the Texans wasted no time jettisoning Akers.

In the end, the Vikings gave up something for someone they still could have had for almost nothing.

Texans grade: A

The Texans used the unneeded Akers to upgrade a draft pick. Well done, GM Nick Caserio.