The Colts finally got their first win of the season, and rookie tight end Jelani Woods played a key role in their triumph. The Virginia product recorded his first two career receptions, both by way of touchdown — no big deal.
A big game for sure, but does it mean Woods is going to be a fixture in Indianapolis' passing attack going forward?
Our experts weigh in below on whether you should go out of your way on the waiver wire this week to roster Woods.
Sean Koerner: I’m not interested in Woods … yet. He’s still in a volatile three-way committee with Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson.
The two TDs were nice and could earn him more playing time going forward. But let O.J. Howard’s 2/38/2 in Week 1 be a lesson here, as he has gone for 1/7/0 in two games since.
I wouldn’t trust Woods until he starts running a route on at least 50% of Matt Ryan’s dropbacks and/or Alie-Cox or Granson miss any time.
Samantha Previte: Woods wowed in the Colts' 20-17 upset of the Chiefs. He logged his first two career catches (on three targets) for 13 yards and two touchdowns and was the TE 4 for Week 3.
Woods was one of my favorite prospects coming out of the 2022 draft and a deep sleeper I had my eye on. The third rounder from Virginia is an absolute unit, standing at 6-foot-7 and 259 pounds (think: Martellus Bennett). Scouts reported he has good blocking skills and hands — attributes that were clear as day on Sunday.
I hope he takes over the position completely from Mo Alie-Cox, though that may be a lofty wish in Woods' inaugural season. Regardless, he should be on your radar in deep leagues or keeper leagues as a potential star in the making.
Chris Raybon: Leave him on the wire. Despite catching two TDs in Week 3, Woods ran a route on just 26% of Matt Ryan’s dropbacks.
He would need that rate to more than double to be fantasy relevant, which is unlikely as long as the Colts deploy a three-way committee also featuring Mo-Alie Cox and Kylen Granson.
