Robert Woods, WR Buffalo Bills Fantasy Football Rookie Spotlight
Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com

Photo by Alex Dunlap

Height: “6’0″”

Weight: 201 pounds

40-time: 4.51 40-time (Combine)

Drafted: 2nd Round

Competition for touches:
WR Steve Johnson
WR T.J. Graham
WR Da’Rick Rogers
WR Marquise Goodwin
WR Marcus Easley

Bill Byrne’s Pre-Draft Scouting Report

Robert Woods is a well-rounded and explosive wide-receiving talent. He’s quick, has good size and better than average speed, but isn’t dominant in any single category. There are faster, quicker and bigger receivers in this draft, but Woods is that pure receiver who plays at his best against top competition and in huge games.

He has a lean, slender, and athletic frame with good upper body strength. He’s not built for contact, but he doesn’t shy away from it, which may be a contributing factor to his numerous injuries while at USC. He bulked up before the Scouting combine (while USC listed him as 6-1-190, the combine has him at 6-0-201).

His better than average speed will allow him to run by most defenders, but what stands out about Woods are his hands and his route-running abilities. He has soft hands, and if the ball is in his vicinity, he’s probably going to catch it. He makes tough catches look easy, and will put his body on the line to come up with the football. He understands the full route tree and recognizes coverages. He stays very aware of down and distance situations. He is a polished and precise route runner who is very good at counting his steps and timing his routes.

Woods does not lose speed coming in and out of breaks. He creates separation with quick acceleration and fluid changes of direction. Despite his size, he was a very productive red-zone target for the Trojans. Once he secures the ball, he displays good field vision, and is able to pick up yardage after the catch.

Woods has had quite a few injuries—including multiple ankle injuries—which have put his
NFL future success in jeopardy. His right ankle has never really looked right despite having arthroscopic surgery in December of 2011. He also had concussion symptoms in 2012. He is a significant draft risk, because it is not extremely likely that his ankle will check out under NFL medical scrutiny.

Woods is a total competitor with a fiery personality who will always give 100% effort. He is the type of player who wants the ball in critical situations and will more often than not come up with the big play. If he can get past an ankle injury issue, what you see is a very intelligent, competitive and athletic football player who is NFL ready. But I downgraded him due to his ankle.

(Editor’s note: A scouting director with a very good NFC team told RosterWatch recently that Woods was not a player he thought would be available in the late first round.)

Fantasy Outlook

The situation in Buffalo is entirely unclear at this point except for one thing: the situation is entirely new. Woods comes in as a prospect built for the pro game, though, and has an NFL skill set that was coveted by professional evaluators much more so than by those in the media. Woods should come in and assume an immediate No. 2 role in an offense that will utilize his ability to both dig inside and separate towards the sideline in the intermediate passing game. Woods is a first-round fantasy prospect in rookie drafts, and a player that many in redraft leagues are sure to target in the later rounds due to their familiarity with the USC product, so if you want to nab Woods—who does have terrific upside—you may have to pull the trigger a little sooner than with other less-heralded players from college.