Fantasy: 5 biggest risers after free agency
After a busy week of trades and free-agent signings, the focus is on players who joined new teams and how those changes will impact their fantasy values.
The first, second, and third waves of free agency were highlighted by:
Trades also shook up the landscape:
It resulted in a ton of fantasy updates:
So, with all of that already covered, let's take a look at those who were the biggest beneficiaries: five players who may not have been free agents this year but still saw their fantasy stock rise significantly this past week.
Dante Pettis, 49ers
Michael Zagaris / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe 49ers were rumored to be interested in Brown and Beckham - and released veteran wideout Pierre Garcon - so it was mildly surprising to see their biggest addition at receiver be the signing of Jordan Matthews.
Unless San Francisco uses an early pick in April's draft on an impact wideout, Pettis is in position to open the season atop the depth chart.
The 23-year-old flourished late in his rookie campaign, showing the potential to be a dangerous weapon in Kyle Shanahan's offense. After the team's Week 11 bye, Pettis averaged 6.2 receptions, 71.8 yards, and 0.8 touchdowns per game over his final five outings. It's a small sample size, but those numbers would translate to 99 catches, 1,148 yards, and 13 scores over a full schedule.
That would secure him a spot as a top-12 fantasy receiver - he was the WR8 in standard and WR11 in PPR during that sizzling stretch in November and December. While that may be his absolute ceiling, Pettis is best viewed as a high-end WR3 and is one of my favorite breakout candidates in 2019.
Damien Williams, Chiefs
Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyWilliams took over for Kareem Hunt in the final month of the regular season and averaged 114.4 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns per contest during a five-game span that included two playoff appearances.
Even after general manager Brett Veach said the starting job was "Williams' to lose," there was an expectation that the front office would bring in someone to challenge him for the lead back role. However, some of that concern was alleviated when the team signed Carlos Hyde to a one-year deal worth $2.8 million.
Approaching his age-29 season, Hyde will join his fourth team in three years, and his efficiency has declined at each stop. He's still a capable backup, but don't expect Hyde to usurp Williams after the latter's impressive finish last season.
With Bell, Ingram, and Tevin Coleman settled on new teams, the draft looms as the only source for a starting-caliber back, and there isn't a Saquon Barkley-type prospect among this year's class.
Williams is one step closer to entering his sixth NFL season as a top-15 fantasy running back.
Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWith Adam Humphries signing with the Tennessee Titans and Jackson being dealt to the Eagles, the long-awaited Godwin breakout will finally come in 2019.
In addition to the noted departures, Godwin dodged potential bullets in free agency, including the possibility of Brown reconnecting with former coach Bruce Arians. Thankfully, the only new face in the Bucs' receiving corps is fourth-year bust Breshad Perriman, who will need to beat out sophomore Justin Watson to carve out a role in three-wide sets.
Godwin's stats with Jackson out of the lineup have been well-documented, as the young wideout hauled in at least 98 yards in four of those six games and found the end zone four times. Even with Jackson around for most of 2018, Godwin compiled 842 yards and seven scores, and he reached the 100-yard mark three times in the second half of the season.
Mike Evans re-established himself as the leading man in Tampa's passing attack, but Godwin won't be far behind in fantasy as a WR3 with WR2 upside.
Geronimo Allison, Packers
Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyAllison, a restricted free agent, agreed to a one-year contract to remain in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers and give himself another shot at the breakout that eluded him due to a groin injury in October.
After the opening four games, Allison was on pace for 76 receptions, 1,156 yards, and eight touchdowns. Outside of Davante Adams, no other Packers pass-catcher managed that level of production at any point in 2018.
Rumors swirled that Green Bay might be in the market for help at the position, with Golden Tate and Brown mentioned as possibilities. Nothing materialized, leaving Allison as the favorite to start alongside Adams, with Marquez Valdes-Scantling likely replacing Randall Cobb in the slot.
With new head coach Matt LaFleur injecting life into the offense, Allison is an under-the-radar fantasy asset poised for a career year, if he can stay healthy.
Trey Quinn, Redskins
Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / GettyJamison Crowder was a safety net over the middle for the Redskins' offense since being drafted by the club in 2015. He led the team in targets in 2017 and was on his way to doing so again the following year before injuries limited him to nine games.
It didn't take long for Crowder to find a new franchise in free agency, which frees up a 20 percent target share in Washington.
Quinn's trial run as the heir apparent to Crowder was brief due to a high-ankle sprain that kept him out for the majority of the season. However, when Quinn started in place of Crowder over a two-game span in Weeks 10 and 11, the rookie caught nine of his 10 targets for 75 yards and a score.
If he breaks camp as the team's starting slot receiver, which is expected, Quinn could emerge as new quarterback Case Keenum's favorite option.
Keenum helped propel Adam Thielen's rising star during their time together with the Minnesota Vikings and locked onto Emmanuel Sanders - and later DaeSean Hamilton - in his brief stint with the Denver Broncos. If Quinn is next, he'll be one of the best values in early fantasy drafts.
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