Kylen

Granson

The fourth-year tight end had increased his yardage totals in back-to-back seasons heading into 2024, giving Colts fans some hope that he would take the next step in a contract year. Instead, the 26-year-old played fewer snaps than veteran Mo Alie-Cox and peaked at 47 yards in a game. His yardage total fell from 368 in 2023 to 182 this year. The Colts are all but certain to add a big name at tight end either via free agency or the draft. Even if they re-up with Granson, he will not be on the fantasy radar in 2025.

That’s a season high in yardage for the little-used Granson, who logged a pass route on 17 of the Colts’ 47 drop backs. Fellow Colts TE Will Mallory also ran 17 routes against Denver but did not record a catch. Granson won’t be fantasy viable in Week 16 against the Titans.

Alie-Cox was platooned with Kylen Granson, who also saw just one target. Even with Jelani Woods out of the picture because of a toe injury, the Colts don’t appear to have a fantasy-relevant tight end. Fantasy managers can ignore this position group until something changes.

It’s yet another tough break for Woods, who has battled through numerous injuries since being drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Woods has caught 25 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns in 15 career games but hasn’t taken a regular-season snap since 2022. After missing all of last season with nagging hamstring injuries, Woods will now hope to see the field at some point late in the 2024 season. With Woods out, fourth-year tight end Kylen Granson is expected to serve as the team’s starter. Granson is well off the fantasy radar at this time.

Granson won a contested catch and produced an explosive, 15-plus-yard pass play. He was the only first-team tight end to secure a target but was among three other Colts tight ends to take first-team repetitions. The unit should be avoided for fantasy purposes.

News of toe surgery is big blow for Woods, who missed the entire 2023 season with a hamstring injury. The 2022 third-rounder caught 22 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie, showing off his size and athleticism. Unfortunately, Woods’ toe injury will keep him out for at least the start of the regular season. Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox are next up in the tight end room, but both are only fantasy targets in deeper leagues.

Alie-Cox was one-of-three Colts tight ends to play in the first-team offense, side-kicked by Kylen Granson (who caught 1-of-2 targets for six yards) and Andrew Ogletree (zero targets). Alie-Cox made the most of his meager opportunities, dazzling with an explosive, 15-plus-yard pass play that featured one missed tackle forced. The unit should be avoided for re-draft purposes.

Through three seasons, Granson has yet to produce the breakout season fantasy managers were hoping for after the Colts selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he’s shown steady growth year over year. His 30 receptions and 368 yards led all Colts tight ends on the season, while his 12.3 YPR also set a new career high. Granson has looked like a replacement-level player through much of his career, and while we can’t rule out 2024 as a potential breakout campaign, there’s also a chance the Colts look for a more productive pass catcher via free agency or the draft this offseason. His upside will be solely dependent on how the Colts choose to approach their tight end situation in the coming months.

It was a (very) run heavy day for the Colts offense; Gardner Minshew attempted just 23 passes. Granson continues splitting route-running duties with Will Mallory, who has a 19-yards catch against Vegas. Granson has 28 catches on 46 targets for 332 yards and a touchdown on the year.

Granson led Colts pass-catchers with 62 yards in the Week 16 loss. He and Will Mallory were targeted often over the middle of the field with receiver Michael Pittman out. When Pittman returns, Granson’s opportunities will decrease, but for now, he is a good streaming option for the tight end position moving forward.