Injuries and bye weeks are forcing fantasy managers deeper into their rosters in Week 8, but there are still several players outside the obvious starter range who can provide useful production.

PFN fantasy analyst Kyle Soppe identified three players he believes the industry remains too low on entering the week. Two come from backfields dealing with the return or potential return of veteran running backs, while the third is an ascending rookie receiver whose role fits particularly well against his upcoming opponent.

Here are Soppe’s three favorite flex options for Week 8.

Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets

Breece Hall is working his way back from the quadriceps injury that has cost him four consecutive games, but Soppe doesn’t believe that should send Braelon Allen back to fantasy benches.

Allen has simply played too well.

He has topped 100 yards from scrimmage in three consecutive games and is coming off 17 carries for 107 yards against the Miami Dolphins, along with six catches for another 30 yards. The Jets have also shown increased confidence in Allen throughout Hall’s absence.

Soppe noted that Allen ranked as the RB10 in fantasy points per game over the previous three weeks entering Week 8. Even if Hall immediately reassumes the nominal RB1 role, Soppe expects Allen to remain a meaningful part of an offense built to lean heavily on the running game.

That is especially appealing against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Las Vegas entered Week 8 with the third-worst run defense in EPA through the first seven weeks. The Raiders have also allowed 25.4 PPR fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, creating a matchup where Soppe believes New York can support two fantasy-relevant backs.

Hall’s health remains worth monitoring. He was limited at both Wednesday and Thursday practices because of the quad injury, while Allen progressed from limited Wednesday with an ankle issue to a full practice Thursday.

Even if Hall is cleared without restrictions, this doesn’t have to become an either-or backfield immediately.

New York has playmakers elsewhere, including Garrett Wilson and Omar Cooper Jr., but the offense hasn’t consistently generated explosive passing production. Soppe expects the Jets to continue leaning on the ground game, giving Allen enough volume to remain viable alongside Hall.

PFN’s current consensus rankings have Allen at RB24 with a 10.5-point PPR projection. Soppe’s argument from the video is essentially that the market is too focused on Hall’s return and not enough on what Allen has done to earn a continuing role.

Allen doesn’t necessarily need to out-touch Hall to matter in fantasy. A reasonably even split in a favorable rushing matchup could leave both backs with RB2 or flex value.

Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Jordan Mason’s situation has a similar theme, but Soppe is even less worried about the veteran running back alongside him.

Mason returned from injured reserve in Week 7 and immediately handled 15 carries for 68 yards against the Indianapolis Colts. He didn’t catch either of his two targets, limiting his fantasy output, but the rushing workload immediately showed that Minnesota wasn’t planning to ease him back into the offense.

Then Aaron Jones Sr. aggravated his knee late in the game.

Jones didn’t practice Wednesday before returning on a limited basis Thursday. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has described him as day-to-day, leaving his Week 8 workload against Detroit uncertain.

Soppe doesn’t believe Mason requires Jones to be ruled out to remain useful.

“This is Jordan Mason’s role to lose,” Soppe said in the Week 8 breakdown.

The receiving ceiling isn’t especially high. Mason’s value is going to come primarily from carries, and Soppe acknowledged that a more versatile passing-game role would make the projection considerably more appealing.

Volume can compensate for that.

Minnesota travels to Detroit for a matchup where controlling possession could be a major part of the Vikings’ offensive plan. Jared Goff and the Lions have enough offensive firepower that Minnesota won’t want to give them extra possessions if it can avoid doing so.

That creates a scenario where Soppe can envision Mason receiving 12-15 carries in the first half alone if the Vikings are able to keep the game close.

It’s a different path to fantasy value than the one Allen offers. Allen has shown more receiving involvement recently, while Mason is a more traditional bet on rushing volume and game flow.

The Vikings’ defense helps make that approach possible. Minnesota has been one of the NFL’s best defensive teams, giving the offense a realistic chance to shorten the game rather than immediately abandoning the run to chase points.

Soppe believes that gives Mason triple-digit rushing-yard potential if the game unfolds favorably.

PFN currently has Mason at RB22 with a 10.5-point PPR projection. The status of Jones could move that number, but Soppe’s larger point is that Mason belongs in flex lineups even if Minnesota’s veteran back is available.

Germie Bernard, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Germie Bernard is the receiver Soppe keeps returning to, and the rookie’s role is beginning to support the optimism.

Pittsburgh selected Bernard in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft after his final two college seasons at Alabama. He has worked his way into a significant offensive role and has played more than 90% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps in three consecutive games.

Bernard has 27 catches for 254 yards and a touchdown through seven weeks. He broke out with six catches for 80 yards against Indianapolis in Week 5 and followed that with 11 receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay.

His Week 7 line of three catches for 27 yards against New Orleans was a step backward statistically, but Soppe remains bullish because of how Bernard is being used.

He compared elements of Bernard’s game to Rashee Rice. That doesn’t mean Soppe expects Bernard to immediately produce like Rice did with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. Aaron Rodgers isn’t playing at his peak, and Pittsburgh’s passing game doesn’t provide the same ceiling.

The similarity is in the way Bernard earns his targets.

DK Metcalf gives Pittsburgh a vertical threat who can challenge defenses downfield. Bernard is doing much of his work underneath, where the Steelers can manufacture higher-percentage throws and give him opportunities to create yards after the catch.

That distinction becomes important against Cleveland.

The Browns have one of the league’s stronger pass rushes and are difficult to attack vertically. Soppe noted that Bernard’s role is concentrated much closer to the line of scrimmage, where Cleveland has been more vulnerable in terms of completion percentage.

Pittsburgh’s own numbers reinforce the growing role. Bernard has led the Steelers with a 27% target share across his three starts, and more than half of his routes during that stretch have come from the slot.

Soppe expects somewhere in the range of six to eight targets against Cleveland. If Bernard converts five to seven of those opportunities, the receptions alone can provide a useful PPR floor before accounting for any touchdown or yards-after-catch upside.

PFN currently ranks Bernard as WR24 for Week 8 with a 12.0-point PPR projection.

Soppe sees more than a one-week play, too. He believes Bernard’s role and skill set can make him a regular fantasy starter beyond the Cleveland matchup.

There may not be WR1 upside in the current Pittsburgh offense, but fantasy managers don’t need that from a flex option. Reliable targets, a favorable Week 8 matchup, and Bernard’s ability after the catch give him the combination of floor and upside Soppe is looking for.