Is Jake Funk Now a Viable Fantasy Football Option in 2021?
The Cam Akers Achilles injury, originally reported by Tom Pellisero, is significant news for the Los Angeles Rams. Akers was poised for a phenomenal 2021 season as the lead back. The rest of the Rams offense, including Cooper Kupp, is now seeing their fantasy stock rise as a result of Akers’ injury. Another option who stands to benefit? Jake Funk, the seventh round selection out of Maryland.
Outside of Darrell Henderson Jr., the Rams don’t have another player in the backfield who has taken an NFL snap. Henderson was already considered a fantasy sleeper behind Akers, but now he is the No. 1 guy and has lost any sleeper status. Los Angeles does not have a definitive No. 2 option, and it’s unclear whether Henderson can be an every down type of back coming off an injury of his own. That’s where Jake Funk comes in.
Enter Jake Funk
Rams head coach Sean McVay has already said publicly that he likes what Funk brings to the table. Before the Akers injury, he was really only being considered as a special teams option and future third-down back. Now, it looks like he could get real touches this season. Nate Burleson of Good Morning Football named Funk as the player he is most excited to watch in the preseason:
Here’s the thing about preseason: some of the starters might play a little bit, some might not even touch the field. But the guys that are drafted late, those are the guys that will play four quarters, that will be running around, flying around. If you listened to anything Jake Funk said on this show, he is going to give everything he’s got. If we do a fantasy draft this year where we pick a guy that’s going to do his thing through the course of the preseason, I’m going with Jake Funk. 100 percent. Watch out for this guy, he is going to have an impact.
Nate Burleson, Good Morning Football
There’s Lots to Like With Jake Funk
Physically, Funk is a freak. His combine measurables were very impressive. 4.4s 40-yard dash, 38-inch vertical, 10-foot-2 broad jump. He’s nasty.
The moral of the story here is to give this guy a look towards the back end of your fantasy draft. Even more so if you are in a bigger league. There is concern regarding Funk’s injury history after two ACL tears, but he has a lot of upside as a late-round pick.
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