The fantasy football process looks (roughly) the same, regardless of the format you play--fantasy football waiver wire research on Tuesdays, trade considerations throughout the middle of the week, and setting lineups toward the end of the week.

That said, there are subtle nuances that dynasty fantasy football managers have to pay attention to to alter their strategy. To assist, I'll be consolidating everything a Dynasty Fantasy Football manager needs to know to prepare for the week ahead.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Target For Week 8

Cedric Tillman, WR - Browns

Second-year wideout Cedric Tillman entered Week 6 with three total receptions on the year, and none since Week 6. However, he ripped off eight receptions for 81 yards (12 targets) on Sunday afternoon.

The departure of Amari Cooper allowed Tillman to slide into a more prominent role. There's a decent chance his performance this week will cement his status as a more regular player moving forward.

Coming out of college, Tillman clocked in at No. 12 in our Rookie WR Model. An older prospect (already 24 years old), he sports solid athleticism and, now, opportunity.

With the Browns now likely turning to Jameis Winston following the injury to Deshaun Watson, there's a good chance this offense actually improves. Tillman could be a nice mid-season pickup for both your redraft and dynasty roster. He'll be a trendy option this week for those who are paying attention to the right scenarios.


Trade Targets for Dynasty Fantasy Football

Troy Franklin, WR - Broncos

From a real-life perspective, it's gotta be pretty incredible having the chance to play in the NFL with your former college teammate. It's what every kid dreams about when they're playing at recess or with their friends.

For Bo Nix and Troy Franklin, we finally got a chance to see what their NFL connection looks like and the early returns are promising.

Last season at Oregon, Franklin hauled in 14 of Nix's 45 TD passes. After Denver landed Nix in the first round, they snagged Franklin in Round 4. Despite his Day 3 selection, Franklin offers some unique upside. First, he's still super young and actually led the WR class in QB rating when targeted.

 

Maybe there is something to be said for having that strong connection with Nix.

On Thursday night, Franklin paced the team in targets (6), receptions (5), and receiving yards (50). This performance came on the heels of his first career TD back in Week 6 and, with a promising matchup against the Panthers next week, things are trending up for Franklin.

 

It's worth noting that Courtland Sutton did not have a single target in Week 7. That certainly won't be the norm so don't expect Franklin to automatically take over this offense moving forward. There will still be growing pains but dynasty managers should be willing to go out and get Franklin before the big games start coming.

Bo Nix, QB - Broncos

I was going to put Drake Maye in this spot because I would much rather prefer him but he's going to be (rightly) too expensive after consecutive 27+ PPR-point outings to begin his career. However, fellow rookie Bo Nix won't cost as much but could offer similar long-term value.

Sometimes players just feel like they're going to land in a certain spot come draft day and, when it finally happens we're all like, "Yeah, that makes sense". That's how it felt with Nix last spring. It felt like Denver was the most logical landing spot and it made sense with Sean Payton and his QB-whispering ability.

The growth has already been incredible and there's still plenty of time to get in on Nix before his price rises even further.

Through his first three games, Nix threw zero TDs and four INTs. In his last three games, he's thrown four TDs and has just one INT. The improvements are already beginning to show. Nix also has 25+ rushing yards in five of his seven games this year. Those fantasy points start to add up.

The Broncos also sit 4-3 which is a surprise in itself. With a legitimate head coach, a viable run game, and just enough pass-catchers to move the ball, Nix can rely on Denver's elite defense to keep games close. Nix should continue his ascent in an ideal environment for a young QB.


Player to Trade Away in Dynasty Leagues

Kalif Raymond, WR - Lions

A 30-year-old veteran wideout, Kalif Raymond has been on a bit of a run over the last two weeks, topping 70 receiving yards last week and scoring a TD this week. While this significant upward trajectory in production could certainly continue, his utilization suggests that he's going to be more boom/bust than a consistent asset for your fantasy team.

He's simply not running enough routes and earning enough targets to feel comfortable plugging him into your WR3 / Flex spot each week. Sell him to someone who believes in him and go search elsewhere for a stop-gap player if you need one.


Breakout Watch

Ricky Pearsall & Jacob Cowing, WR - 49ers

The 49ers were already down Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), promptly lost Deebo Samuel (illness) for the week, and then lost Brandon Aiyuk (assumed ACL) potentially for the season.

Guess it's time for Kyle Shanahan to work his magic … again.

Rookie wideouts Ricky Pearsall (3-21 on five targets) & Jacob Cowing (2-50 on three targets) both made first career receptions in a Week 7 loss to the Chiefs. Now, both could be asked to take on a larger role over the second half of the season.

The 49ers selected Pearsall at the end of Round 1 (31st overall) and then snagged Cowing in Round 4 (135th overall). Both are older prospects but landed in a fantasy-friendly environment. Draft capital suggests Pearsall is the better play, but I would suggest stashing both if you have the space. If either of them hits, you've got the potential for a solid fantasy producer over the next few months.