NFC West running back corps ranked worst to best for 2023

Are the 49ers owners of the best running back room in the NFC West? Take a look at find out.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) / Ezra Shaw/GettyImages
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Los Angeles Rams, Cam Akers
Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers (3) / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: Los Angeles Rams

Projected starter: Cam Akers

A shoddy Rams offensive line probably means running the ball won't be too easy in 2023, although fourth-year pro Cam Akers should probably have plenty of motivation after being the subject of trade rumors a year ago.

LA is still in rebuild mode, though, so perhaps Akers is playing for his next suitor. Combine that with the fact he had 903 total yards from scrimmage a season ago amid one of the league's worst offenses, and his team's running back room is able to edge that of Arizona's by a modest margin.

Oh, and having Sean McVay as a play-caller helps move the needle, too.

With quarterback Matthew Stafford and All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp still in the fray, Los Angeles' offense is balanced enough to take pressure of Akers, too, and rookie running back Zach Evans seems enticing as a bruising change-of-pace tailback.

Either way, what separates LA from Arizona is the fact there's way more trust in a McVay-led offense than anything out in the desert right now.