Fantasy: 3 wide receivers whose stock will rise in free agency

As the Super Bowl approaches, so does the NFL offseason.

Over the next six weeks, you’ll find plenty of lists outlining the top free agents for 2019. For fantasy owners, it's necessary to determine which players will see their values altered with a new team.

We already went over three running backs who could see their fantasy stocks rise, so let's take a look at three receivers who should benefit when they sign in free agency.

John Brown

Golden Tate is the most established receiver on the market and will serve as a decent slot option wherever he lands, but Brown has the chance to finally complete a breakout we've been hoping for since his early days in Arizona.

Don’t forget, the 28-year-old already has a 1,000-yard campaign under his belt, which he accomplished in his second season as a pro in 2015. That was before health issues, including being diagnosed with the sickle cell trait, derailed his development.

Brown was back to 100 percent in 2018 and looked like an impact fantasy player in the opening half of the season. In fact, over his first seven games with the Ravens, Brown was the WR11 in standard formats and the WR16 in PPR leagues, with 86 yards and/or a touchdown in five of those contests.

However, the quarterback switch from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson brought a far more run-heavy approach, as the rookie's passing accuracy was still a work in progress. Due to that change in offensive philosophy, Brown's targets were cut almost in half on a per-game basis over the final nine outings.

Still, he ended the year with the eighth-most targeted air yards, behind Julio Jones, Mike Evans, DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Antonio Brown, Tyreek Hill, and Jarvis Landry. And that's not surprising, considering Brown was third in targeted air yards in 2017 and 15th in 2016.

If his next destination features an improved quarterback situation, Smokey has the upside to deliver WR2 numbers in fantasy, which has been a long time coming.

Ideal fantasy landing spots: Colts, Packers, Eagles

Devin Funchess

Funchess is another player whose struggles down the stretch could hide his potential value for 2019.

The former second-round pick set career highs in 2017 with 840 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Then, prior to the Panthers' seven-game losing streak that began midway through this season, Funchess was on pace for 77 catches, 997 yards, and another eight touchdowns.

But as playoff hopes slipped away, Carolina decided to reduce Funchess' playing time in favor of long-term assets like DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel. After missing Week 12 with a back injury, Funchess saw just 11 targets the rest of the way.

It's highly unlikely Funchess emerges as a No. 1 receiver with his next club, but the 24-year-old is capable of providing a secondary threat as a big-bodied presence with his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame.

Teams like the Browns and Colts - which boast promising offenses that are still in search of red-zone weapons - would give Funchess his best chance to rekindle his status as a fantasy starter.

Ideal fantasy landing spots: Browns, Colts, Cardinals

Tyrell Williams

With Keenan Allen remaining healthy and Mike Williams arriving via the first round in 2017, Tyrell Williams has taken a back seat with the Chargers over the last two years

Much like Funchess, Tyrell doesn’t profile as a team's top receiver, despite his recent comments to the contrary. But he could settle in as a quality second option who's ready to take on a larger role if injuries strike the depth chart.

In 2016, Tyrell was thrust into a heavier target total (119) and delivered 69 receptions, 1,059 yards, and seven scores, making him a volume-driven WR2 in fantasy.

Will he reach that kind of target share in a new city? Probably not. But teams like the Cardinals and Raiders could offer a starting job with the possibility of a significant workload, depending on how else they fill out their receiving corps this offseason.

The Patriots also lurk as an intriguing suitor, as they'll try to fill the void left behind by Josh Gordon. Tyrell’s speed would likely be a welcome addition.

In a down year for free-agent pass catchers, Tyrell will be a sneaky fantasy value if he breaks free of the crowded Chargers roster.

Ideal fantasy landing spots: Patriots, Raiders, Cardinals