X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

Zach Evans Fantasy Football Profile - NFL Rookie Sleeper

The Los Angeles backfield has been unsettled and wide-open since Todd Gurley left town. Fantasy managers have grown through stints of Darrell Henderson Jr. and the return of Cam Akers. While Akers is undoubtedly the favorite to be the team's starter, how safe is his job? Just last year, he had requested a trade, and the Rams were said to be taking calls to try and accommodate his wishes. When no team proposed a reasonable offer, the Rams and Akers were forced to reconcile for the remainder of the season. Whether that was done to try to increase his trade value or because the team was truly going to move forward with the third-year running back is unknown.

What we do know is that Akers did enough with his second opportunity to have earned himself another chance as the team's lead rusher. However, 2023 marks the final season of his rookie contract, and there are plenty of questions regarding his future in Los Angeles. If the team does not have plans of re-signing Akers, could they turn to their sixth-round rookie Zach Evans to see if there's a future for him?

While investing in the Los Angeles backfield is not for the faint of heart, Evans does have some sleeper appeal largely due to a depressed cost that allows fantasy managers to invest essentially for free. The options behind Akers are not imposing, which could result in Evans working as a change-of-pace back behind Akers early. Could he be a second-half sleeper if the Rams' season goes south? Let’s dive in, and don't forget to use promo code "BOOM" for 10% off of any premium purchase!

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 10% off using code BALLER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

Zach Evans Prospect Profile

Evans was a five-star recruit who signed with TCU after an illustrious high school career that included nearly 5,000 yards and 76 rushing touchdowns. He appeared in nine games as a true freshman with the Horned Frogs and rushed for 415 yards on just 54 carries. He was able to find the end zone four times. Despite the limited number of touches, Evan wasted no time displaying his explosiveness.

Evans averaged 7.7 yards per carry, which ranked fifth among running backs with at least 50 carries, according to PFF. He also finished third with an impressive 5.76 yards after contact per attempt. 22.2% of his carries went for at least 10 yards, displaying his ability to hit big plays. This is a skillset Akers failed to display in his return to his starting role last season. Evans does things that Akers hasn't shown the ability to do with regularity.

The injury concerns began during his sophomore season when he missed six games due to a toe injury. Despite this, he still led TCU in rushing, ending his 2021 season with 648 yards on just 92 carries. Once again, he impressed with a seven-yard per-carry average. The same explosiveness he displayed as a freshman still popped in his second year. According to PFF, he finished with 4.30 yards after contact per attempt, which ranked 12th among running backs with 75 carries.

Following the 2021 season, Evans transferred to Ole Miss. He played in 12 games in 2022 but still missed time due to injuries. His final season was his most productive yet. He finished with 930 rushing yards on 144 carries. For the third straight season, Evans posted an excellent yard-per-carry average, ending with a 6.5 average. Among running backs with at least 100 carries, this was the 13th-best. He finished with 33 rushes of over 10 yards, which was the 25th-most, despite being just 89th in carries. Over three collegiate seasons, he rushed for 10 yards on 21.3% of his carries.

While Evans offers high home-run ability as a rusher, he was modestly used in the passing game over three seasons and two different universities. He ended his collegiate career with 43 targets, 30 receptions, 325 yards, and a 1.35-yard-per-route run average. Sports Info Solutions scout Matthew Kupec had this to say about his skillset in the passing game,

"Evans is a mediocre contributor to the passing game. He can be a serviceable pass catcher on basic screens and check down responsibilities, but he does not provide much value outside of that. While he has a solid frame with sufficient strength, he doesn't translate that to being a sufficient pass protector."

 

Zach Evans Fantasy Football Expectations

Last year, the Rams' running backs combined for 320 carries, 1,310 yards, and 11 touchdowns. Unfortunately, there's been very little work for the team's running backs when it comes to involvement in the passing game. In 2022, the Rams finished 30th in running back targets with just 63. They were 31st in 2021 with 76 targets, 30th in 2020 with 71, and 32nd in 2019 with 61. That means that if Evans is to be fantasy-relevant this season, he'll need to do so on the ground.

This will be difficult for Evans, especially with how Akers closed the 2022 season. He finished with three straight games with 100 yards or more. With him locked into the starter role, there likely will not be enough work for Evans to be a viable option for fantasy managers this season. With a depth chart of just Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers, it shouldn't be too difficult to work himself into the No. 2 role for the Rams.

His complementary skillset could lead to a role where Evans sees 6–8 touches per game, but Akers will likely remain the goal-line running back. As previously discussed, there's historically been little passing work dedicated to the running back position. This kind of workload will keep Evans solely in the handcuff category.

There is upside for him in the event that Akers misses time. There is also the possibility that if the Rams are eliminated from postseason contention, the coaching staff could decide to give Evans a bigger role in an attempt to see if he has the potential as their future starter. It's unlikely the team will re-sign Akers, which would give them the chance to see how Evans handles a bigger load.

If Akers were to struggle with his efficiency, it's also possible for Evans to earn a bigger touch share over time. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting much early from Evans, but he has the potential to be a flex-level player in the second half of the season. He's currently being drafted as the RB62 with an ADP of 204.3, roughly the beginning of the 17th round.

As a reminder, if you're interested in purchasing any of our premium packages for the upcoming fantasy football season, use promo code "BOOM" to receive a 10% discount.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!




Win More With RotoBaller

Be sure to also check out all of our other daily fantasy football articles and analysis to help you set those winning lineups, including this new RotoBaller YouTube video:

More NFL Rookie Profiles




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ja'Marr Chase7 hours ago

Erupts In Week 10
Joe Burrow7 hours ago

Has Another Strong Performance On Thursday
Baltimore Ravens9 hours ago

Kyle Hamilton Won't Return On Thursday Night
Tony Pollard10 hours ago

Sits Out On Thursday
Darius Slayton11 hours ago

Officially Out For Germany Game
Mansur Abdul-Malik11 hours ago

A Big Favorite At UFC Vegas 100
Luana Pinheiro11 hours ago

Could Be Fighting For Job At UFC Vegas 100
Gillian Robertson11 hours ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak At UFC Vegas 100
Reinier De ridder12 hours ago

Reinier de Ridder Makes UFC Debut At UFC Vegas 100
Gerald Meerschaert12 hours ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 100
Mike Evans12 hours ago

Another DNP For Mike Evans On Thursday
Christian McCaffrey12 hours ago

Expected To Make Season Debut In Week 10
13 hours ago

Jeff Hoffman Could Enter Starting Rotation In 2025
Ja Morant13 hours ago

Ruled Out For Friday
Christian McCaffrey13 hours ago

Limited Again On Thursday
13 hours ago

Willy Adames Receives Offers From Mets And Dodgers
Chris Olave13 hours ago

Misses Another Practice
Zach LaVine13 hours ago

Officially Out On Thursday
Andrew Peeke13 hours ago

Out Week-To-Week
Giannis Antetokounmpo13 hours ago

Good For Thursday's Game
T.J. McFarland13 hours ago

Re-Signs With The A's
Brandon Miller13 hours ago

Tagged As Probable For Friday
Mattias Janmark13 hours ago

Considered Day-To-Day With Undisclosed Injury
A.J. Brown13 hours ago

Looks Ready For Week 10
Iván Herrera13 hours ago

Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages To Split Opportunities Behind The Plate
Miles Bridges13 hours ago

Won't Play On Friday
Alex Turcotte13 hours ago

Remains Sidelined Thursday
13 hours ago

Alex Bregman Could Play Second Base In 2025
Tee Higgins13 hours ago

Won't Play On Thursday Night
Zach LaVine13 hours ago

Doubtful For Thursday's Game
Artem Zub14 hours ago

Rejoins Senators Lineup Thursday
Devin Vassell14 hours ago

Could Make Season Debut On Saturday
Tyler Seguin14 hours ago

Expected Back Versus Blackhawks
Wendell Carter Jr.14 hours ago

Listed As Out For Friday
Brayden Point14 hours ago

Remains Out On Thursday
Andre Jackson Jr.14 hours ago

Expected To Start On Thursday
Cale Makar14 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Thursday
14 hours ago

Red Sox, Orioles Looking At Teoscar Hernandez
Kyle Pitts15 hours ago

Remains Limited Participant On Thursday
15 hours ago

Mets To Meet With Juan Soto Soon
Drake London15 hours ago

Remains Limited On Thursday
Aleksei Kolosov15 hours ago

Injured In Pregame Skate On Thursday
Xavier Legette15 hours ago

Aggravates Past Injury, Expected To Play On Sunday
Jake Walman15 hours ago

Will Not Play Thursday
Austin Seibert15 hours ago

Limited On Thursday
Anthony Mantha15 hours ago

Headed To Injured Reserve
Auston Matthews15 hours ago

' Status Up In The Air
Brian Robinson Jr.15 hours ago

Remains Limited On Thursday
Matvei Michkov15 hours ago

Will Be A Healthy Scratch On Thursday
Keaton Mitchell15 hours ago

Making Season Debut On Thursday
DeVonta Smith17 hours ago

Returns To Practice On Thursday
Adam Thielen17 hours ago

Not Participating In Thursday's Practice
Darius Slayton17 hours ago

Not Expected To Make Trip To Germany
Keon Coleman17 hours ago

A "DNP" On Thursday
Garrett Crochet18 hours ago

An Offseason Trade Candidate
18 hours ago

Ha-Seong Kim Drawing Plenty Of Buzz At GM Meetings
18 hours ago

Willy Adames Willing To Play A Different Position
Tyrese Maxey19 hours ago

Expected To Miss Multiple Weeks With Hamstring Injury
Dylan Larkin21 hours ago

Bags Two Points In Win Over Chicago
Logan Thompson21 hours ago

Continues Winning Ways With Capitals
Dylan Strome21 hours ago

Stays Hot With Two-Assist Effort
Ivan Barbashev21 hours ago

Records Three Assists Wednesday
Tommy Novak21 hours ago

Day-To-Day With An Upper-Body Injury
Dylan Holloway21 hours ago

Avoids Serious Injury
Jonathan Mogbo22 hours ago

Exits With Hip Problem Wednesday
Tyrese Maxey22 hours ago

Makes Precautionary Exit Wednesday
Jalen Duren22 hours ago

Considered Day-To-Day With Ankle Injury
Isaiah Collier22 hours ago

Considered Questionable Thursday
Jordan Clarkson22 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Thursday
Joel Embiid22 hours ago

On Track To Make Season Debut On Tuesday
Willson Contreras1 day ago

Will Transition To 1B/DH Role In 2025
Lauri Markkanen1 day ago

Questionable Versus Milwaukee
Giannis Antetokounmpo1 day ago

In Danger Of Missing Another Game
Ja Morant1 day ago

Injures Hamstring, Leaves Game In Third Quarter
Mookie Betts1 day ago

To Play Infield For The Dodgers In 2025
Bradley Beal1 day ago

Active On Wednesday
Josh Giddey1 day ago

To Play On Wednesday
Derek Forbort2 days ago

Out Week-To-Week With A Knee Problem
Bryan Rust2 days ago

Logs Full Practice On Wednesday
Kevin Hayes2 days ago

Misses Practice With An Upper-Body Injury
Royce Lewis2 days ago

Might See More Time At Second Base
2 days ago

Alex Bregman Has Bone Chip Removed From Elbow
Kyle Hendricks2 days ago

Angels Sign Kyle Hendricks
Max Greyserman2 days ago

Earns Highest DraftKings Salary For WWT Championship
Harry Hall2 days ago

In Solid Form Heading To Cabo
PGA2 days ago

Matti Schmid On Fire Ahead Of WWT Championship
Jhonattan Vegas2 days ago

A Safe Play At WWT Championship
Taylor Moore2 days ago

Looks To Contend At WWT Championship
Patrick Fishburn2 days ago

A Volatile Option At El Cardonal
Michael Kim2 days ago

Aims For Back-To-Back Top-10 Finishes At WWT Championship
Charley Hoffman2 days ago

Tough To Trust At WWT Championship
Adam Svensson2 days ago

A Risky Play In Mexico
Daniel Berger2 days ago

Looks To Keep Cuts-Made Streak Alive In Mexico
Tom Hoge2 days ago

Hopes To Steady The Ship At World Wide Technology Championship
San Diego Padres2 days ago

Padres Nearing Contract Extension With Manager Mike Shildt
Jazz Chisholm Jr.2 days ago

Could Be Moved Back To Second Base
2 days ago

Astros Have Had "Productive" Talks With Alex Bregman
3 days ago

Rangers Decline 2025 Option On Andrew Chafin
Camilo Doval3 days ago

Generating Interest
Shohei Ohtani3 days ago

Undergoes Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
Chandler Phillips3 days ago

Attempts To Keep Final-Round Form This Week
Neal Shipley3 days ago

Past Five Tournaments Make Him An Interesting DFS Option
Austin Eckroat3 days ago

Wants To Shake Off Some More Rust In Mexico
Rico Hoey3 days ago

Needs The Putter To Work In Mexico
J.J. Spaun3 days ago

Tries To Keep Second Half Rolling In Mexico
Sam Stevens3 days ago

Hopes To Continue Riding A Hot Putter In Mexico
Erik Van Rooyen3 days ago

Erik van Rooyen Tries To Defend WWT Title
Lucas Glover3 days ago

Well-Rested Heading Into WWT Championship
Ben Griffin3 days ago

Hopes To Continue Good Form In Mexico
Keith Mitchell3 days ago

An Unappealing Play At World Wide Technology Championship
Ryan Blaney4 days ago

Wins At Martinsville And Has Chance To Earn Second Straight Championship
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Penalized At Martinsville, Removed From Championship Four
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Not A Factor At Martinsville And Looks Ahead To Phoenix
Kyle Larson4 days ago

Misses Advancing Through Playoffs Despite Top-Three Finish
Brad Keselowski4 days ago

Has A Solid Top-10 Performance At Martinsville
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Loses Out On Winning At Martinsville
Rose Namajunas4 days ago

Drops Decision Matchup
Erin Blanchfield4 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Dustin Stoltzfus4 days ago

Gets First-Round Knockout At UFC Edmonton
Marc-Andre Barriault4 days ago

Knocked Out At UFC Edmonton
Trevin Giles4 days ago

Losses Third Fight In A Row
Mike Malott4 days ago

Wins Decision At UFC Edmonton
NASCAR4 days ago

Speeding Penalty Foils Martin Truex Jr.'s Last Realistic Shot At Winning
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

Fails To Advance To Championship 4 But Runs Well
Shane Van Gisbergen4 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Earns Best Oval Finish at Martinsville
William Byron4 days ago

Tentatively In Championship 4 Pending Ruling On Manufacturer Orders
MMA5 days ago

Ariane Lipski Submitted At UFC Edmonton
Jasmine Jasudavicius5 days ago

Gets Submission Win At UFC Edmonton
Caio Machado5 days ago

Still Winless In The UFC
Brendson Ribeiro5 days ago

Edges Out Split Decision At UFC Edmonton
Amir Albazi5 days ago

Falls Short At UFC Edmonton
Brandon Moreno5 days ago

Dominates At UFC Edmonton
Daniel Suarez5 days ago

Will Start 20th At Martinsville
Zane Smith5 days ago

Might Be An Underrated Value Play For Martinsville
Tyler Reddick5 days ago

Is A Top DFS Recommendation For Martinsville Lineups
Joey Logano5 days ago

Will Be One To Watch At Martinsville
Brad Keselowski5 days ago

Should DFS Players Rely On Brad Keselowski For Martinsville Lineups?
Carson Hocevar5 days ago

Is A Great DFS Option For All Martinsville DFS Lineups
Ty Gibbs5 days ago

Is Ty Gibbs Worth Rostering At Martinsville This Week For DFS?
Austin Cindric5 days ago

Could Have A Top-20 Performance At Martinsville
William Byron5 days ago

Might Be Usable Only In DFS Tournaments At Martinsville
Chris Buescher5 days ago

Should DFS Players Roster Chris Buescher At Martinsville?
Alex Bowman5 days ago

Expect A Solid Top-10 Performance From Alex Bowman At Martinsville

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Tony Pollard - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Week 10 Fantasy Football Busts? Players Who May Disappoint Include Tony Pollard, Patrick Mahomes, Marvin Harrison Jr., Kyler Murray, Rico Dowdle, DeAndre Hopkins

The running back rebound is the theme of the 2024 fantasy football season. There have been few injuries to the best runners. Therefore, the position has dominated appearances in this column. A down week happens. Other running backs are suppressing the upside of their quarterbacks and wide receivers. Below are my 10 fantasy football busts, […]


Sam LaPorta - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Booms and Busts - Fantasy Football Starts and Sits for Week 10 Lineups

We’ve reached another week of NFL action, and the grind keeps going. Soon the holidays will be here and the fantasy season will be over. Now is no time to slow down! Let’s start with the good for our recap from last week. We correctly labeled Jameis Winston as a bust and advised owners to […]


Jameson Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Draft Sleepers

Bold Predictions for Fantasy Football Week 10: Daniel Jones, Rhamondre Stevenson, Jameson Williams, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Jonnu Smith

Week 10 is here, and I’m back with another edition of fantasy football bold predictions. This week’s list of bold predictions will include Daniel Jones, Rhamondre Stevenson, Jameson Williams, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Jonnu Smith. Every week, I will provide some fun and bold fantasy football predictions. While these bold predictions aren’t the most likely outcomes, […]


Aaron Rodgers - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Free Week 10 NFL Betting Picks and Expert Predictions

Last week, we were unable to crack the win column and finished 0-1-1. We should have gotten a win on the Titans -3, but they allowed a ridiculous touchdown on the last play of regulation to spoil a cover. So, we had to settle for a push. Meanwhile, Joe Flacco looked more like, well, Joe […]


Bijan Robinson - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

Early Slate: Week 10 NFL DFS Picks on DraftKings, FanDuel (2024) - Lineups Advice, Strategy, Values

The Week 10 early slate is not the most exciting we’ve had this season. There are relatively few competitive-looking games, and offense could be hard to come by in several spots. Jacksonville, New England, and even Denver and Indianapolis don’t look overly enticing from a fantasy perspective, but that doesn’t mean we can’t play the […]


Malik Nabers - Fantasy Football Rankings, WR, Waiver Wire, NFL DFS, Rookies

Down Bad at 2-7: New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, and Cleveland Browns

It's been a disappointing season for several teams around the NFL, but let's highlight three particularly disappointing teams: the Saints, Giants, and Browns. Why these three? Well, because my editor said so, if we want to be technical, but also because these three teams are just so hard to pin down. They've all been losing […]


D'Andre Swift - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injuries

PrizePicks NFL DFS Prop Picks - Over/Under Props for Week 10 (Sunday Main Slate)

Hello everybody, and welcome to our PrizePicks NFL DFS prop picks for Week 10 - Sunday Main Slate! The 2024 NFL season is at the midpoint, and our friends over at PrizePicks have a TON of great DFS plays we can look to take advantage of. Our partners at PrizePicks offer some of the best […]


Tyrone Tracy - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

The King's Week 10 Lineup Rankings and Analysis (Premium Content)

RotoBaller senior writer Scott "The King" Engel shares his Week 10 fantasy football lineup rankings for PPR, half PPR, and standard scoring league participants. He also includes additional analysis of the rankings at every skill position. Regular starting options are included to highlight your must-start players who have a good chance of supplying winning totals. […]


Jalen Hurts - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, Draft Sleepers

NFL DFS: FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football Picks for Week 10 - Top Lineup Plays Include Jalen Hurts, DeAndre Hopkins, Saquon Barkley, Joe Mixon

With most fantasy leagues heading into the final turn, many fantasy managers must make a late push to enhance their chances of securing a postseason spot. However, that may be difficult for some, considering injuries continue to make life difficult.   In this article, I will be providing you with my Week 10 daily fantasy […]


Josh Allen - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - Week 10 Matchups Analysis

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to another start'em and sit'em piece as we look ahead to Week 10! There will be four teams (Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, and Cleveland Browns) on bye this week, so fantasy managers might need to look deeper on their benches this week. This Week 10 matchups analysis and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em piece will […]


Malik Nabers - Fantasy Football Rankings, WR, Waiver Wire, NFL DFS, Rookies

WR/CB Matchups to Upgrade and Downgrade - Fantasy Football Week 10 (2024)

Welcome back to our WR/CB Matchups for Week 10 of the 2024 fantasy football season. For those unfamiliar, this weekly series looks at fantasy football matchups for wide receivers versus the cornerbacks who are projected to cover them. The data we access for offensive and defensive players continues to skyrocket. Though we mainly focus on offensive […]


Drake Maye - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Sneaky Starts, Pivot Plays, and Post-Waiver Pickups for Week 10 - Drake Maye, Quentin Johnston, Xavier Legette, Jaylen Warren, and More

We are officially in the home stretch. But do not think for a second you are about to just cruise to the fantasy playoffs. Things are about to get bumpy with byes about to hit. In four of the next five weeks, four teams are on bye. In two of those, there are six. This […]


DeVon Achane - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL DFS Picks, Injury News

Rest-of-Season Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 10 Updates for Top 200 (2024)

We're past the trade deadline and nearing our fantasy season's stretch run, so we need an updated rest-of-season rankings table! The news keeps coming with injury updates and evolving roles as we explore our Week 10 fantasy football half-PPR rankings for the rest of 2024, as of November 7. Check where key players shifted to, […]