Martellus Bennett's fantasy stock set to rise with move to Green Bay

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here are the fantasy implications of the Green Bay Packers signing free agent TE Martellus Bennett from the New England Patriots:

Making a rare big splash in the free agent market, Green Bay added a consistent receiving threat at tight end by luring Bennett away from the Super Bowl champion Patriots.

Bennett hauled in a career-high seven touchdowns in 2016, and along with his 55 catches and 701 yards, finished as the seventh-ranked tight end in standard scoring fantasy formats.

His performances were extremely uneven, however, topping 100 yards receiving in three separate games, while also managing 14 yards or fewer on five occasions. Perhaps due to his responsibilities as a blocker, Bennett couldn't take total advantage of the eight games that position mate Rob Gronkowski missed, recording a 22-303-4 receiving line over those contests.

Bennett's arrival should signal the departure of free agent Jared Cook, whose first (and likely only) season in Green Bay resulted in a 30-377-1 receiving line over 10 games. While Cook missed six contests due to injury, his return to the field in the second half of the season coincided with a hot streak from QB Aaron Rodgers, who threw 20 touchdowns to just two interceptions over his final eight games.

After a season playing with Tom Brady, the switch to catching passes from Rodgers, who led the NFL with 40 touchdown tosses in 2016, isn't much of a downgrade.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Since 2012, Bennett has averaged 63.6 receptions, 688.2 yards and 5.2 touchdowns per season, numbers that shouldn't be threatened playing in Green Bay's potent offense. A campaign similar to his breakout 90-catch, 916-yard, six-TD 2014 isn't likely, but he should be a steady contributor with plenty of touchdown upside thanks to Rodgers' presence.

The 30-year-old's sustained good health also helps his fantasy prospects. Now entering his 10th career season, Bennett has played in 135 of 144 possible games, suiting up for all 16 contests in four of the last five years.

According to fantasyfootballcalculator, Bennett's average draft position heading into the 2017 fantasy season sits 137th overall, and 13th among tight ends.

That placement likely assumed Bennett was staying in New England as part of a tandem with the aforementioned Gronkowski. His move to such a high-profile offense should increase his stock, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him drafted among the top 10 tight ends closer to the season, ahead of the likes of Kyle Rudolph and Zach Ertz.