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LA Rams: Sony Michel trade is paying off, now the full-time starting RB

By Andrew Kim

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Sony Michel #25 of the Los Angeles Rams in action against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on October 17, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Giants 38-11. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Sony Michel #25 of the Los Angeles Rams in action against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on October 17, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Giants 38-11. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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The Sony Michel trade the LA Rams did over the summer is paying off big time, as the former NE Patriots RB is now the lead back for head coach Sean McVay.

The Los Angeles Rams had a promising duo at running back heading into the 2021 season but injuries have hampered Darrell Henderson in the past and Cam Akers tore his Achilles in July. With Henderson not having experience with a full-time role for a full season, the Rams made a low-risk high reward move after the Akers injury and traded for Sony Michel, a former first-round pick from 2018 with the New England Patriots.

Michel had a chance to seize the backfield for Bill Belicheck but he has dealt with his own injuries and couldn’t get out of their committee running back room. The Rams only gave up a 6th round pick in 2022 and a 4th round pick in 2023 but for a running back with some wear and tear in a crowded backfield, the trade made sense for both sides.

Now acclimated playing and starting in a few games, the former Georgia Bulldog is the starter with Darrell Henderson going on I.R. and missing a few games previously with injuries. Henderson was the lead back to start the year but couldn’t quite do enough or stay healthy enough to keep his job once Michel got the chance to take over and was serving as a complementary back behind him anyway.

Despite Cam Akers coming off I.R. to play, I see this more for getting him a few reps in before their playoff run, which is still ridiculous since he’s only about five months removed from a torn Achilles injury and normally takes a full season to fully recover from. Akers should be the backup or rotation back behind Michel once the playoffs come around, as both backs provide different skill sets to give the offense a dynamic tandem backfield the Rams need for their offense.

Michel has been making the most of the workload he has been getting, as he has given the offense a “move the chains” type power runner the Rams were lacking previously to run the offense efficiently. Out of his 5 starts, he has gotten 109 carries and rushed for 490 yards on the ground and has rushed for about 4.5 yards per carry and averaged over 67 rushing yards minimum on each of his starts.

They obviously trust him giving him the full workload to not fumble and to extend drives for long periods of time to score points very efficiently. This consistent production on the ground game is what can propel the Rams potentially to the Super Bowl, as McVay replicated this style of offense when they went to the Super Bowl with Todd Gurley and Jared Goff in 2019 but now; it is even better with new additions like Matthew Stafford and Odell Beckham Jr, in addition to potential offensive player of the year in Cooper Kupp.

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