One X-factor for each team in the NFL playoffs:

Rams running back Cam Akers

Los Angeles Rams – Cam Akers

Whenever you have a player labeled as a “breakout candidate” heading into the season, that is something to pay attention to. It took running back Cam Akers a while to find his groove in the NFL during his rookie season, fighting through some nagging injuries early on.

But over the final five games, he established himself as the workhorse for this L.A. offense, touching the ball 152 times for 802 yards and four touchdowns over his final seven games (including the postseason).

With him being ruled out for the season, the stage was set for another day two draft pick in running back Darrell Henderson to have a big year – and he has certainly had his moments – but he’s been banged up for stretches of the year.

Surprisingly, the largely criticized trade for Sony Michel from New England during the preseason has been key down the stretch, as his 540 rushing yards (on 129 attempts) over the last six weeks rank second only to Jonathan Taylor in the entire NFL.

Michel is a hard-nosed runner who can churn out yards through contact and give the Rams that physical component. Yet, with his arthritic knees and some of the damage he has taken since entering the league, he doesn’t offer much of an explosive element – but Cam Akers does.

Coming off an ACL injury that would typically sideline someone for a full calendar year, we don’t know if we’ll see it right away and his debut against the 49ers was far from inspiring (six yards on eight touches), but exactly that makes him an X-factor.