Every Friday throughout the NFL regular season I will be sending you this lineup helper that I like to call: Tough Decisions. In this article I will breakdown players with similar value, ranking and projection heading into this coming week.

If you want your lineup question featured in next week’s article, just tweet me (@colbyrconway) with your question! Be sure to include your scoring format (PPR, 0.5 PR, standard) as well.

Let's take a look at the TOUGH DECISIONS for Week 6:

QUARTERBACKS

Alex Smith (@OAK) or Dak Prescott (@GB)

The Case for Smith: Smith had a solid fantasy game in his last outing, which came back in Week 4 because his Chiefs were on bye last week. He gets a fantasy owners dream matchup against an Oakland defense that has surrendered the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. That defense has allowed three or more touchdowns in three games this season, which gives Smith an excellent opportunity to succeed in Week 6. Jamaal Charles will continue to work his way into the fold, which gives Smith another excellent weapon for this matchup.

The Case for Prescott: Prescott continues to play extremely well and he’s a threat to run the football on any instance. He has four passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns on the season, en route to being a top 10 performer at the position. Green Bay has been a nightmare for opposing running backs, so if they can slow down Ezekiel Elliot, Prescott will have an opportunity to throw, and maybe even run more than usual. He’s put up 17 or more fantasy points in the past four weeks and Dallas will lean on him again in Week 6.

The Verdict: Smith. I want Smith in this one.

RUNNING BACKS

Carlos Hyde (@BUF) or Mark Ingram (vs. CAR)

The Case for Hyde: Everyone keeps trying to ride this guy down each week, but other than his Week 2 performance against Carolina, this guy has been fantasy gold. He has six rushing touchdowns on the season, which ties him for the league lead with San Diego’s Melvin Gordon. He’s only been held under 70 yards one time and he continues to receive the lion’s share of the carries. Buffalo’s run defense is rather solid, being league average in fantasy points allowed to running backs, but I’m still locking Hyde in as no lower than a high-end RB2.

The Case for Ingram: Not only has Ingram received 33 carries over the last two weeks, but he’s also hauled in 10 receptions during that stretch. He may only have two touchdowns on the season, but a lot of that has been due to the fantasy vulture John Kuhn taking all his touches at the goal line. The Panthers are right around league average in terms of fantasy points allowed to rushers, but perhaps they’ll be so occupied with trying to slow down the New Orleans aerial attack that they forget about Ingram. He’s a RB2 this week. He did miss practice yesterday with the flu, so make sure you monitor his status.

The Verdict: Hyde. I’ve been a fan of his since day one.

Jamaal Charles (@OAK) or Ryan Mathews (@WSH)

The Case for Charles: Oakland has struggled stopping opposing running backs this season. In short, Oakland has had trouble stopping everyone this season. They would be in a bunch of trouble if they didn’t have David Carr’s brother under center. Only six teams are allowing more fantasy points per game than the Raiders, so it’s hard not to get excited about Charles this week. He likely still won’t see a full workload, but in this contest, he may only need 12 or 15 touches to put up RB1 numbers. He has plenty of potential, but he’s a solid RB2 this week in my eyes.

The Case for Mathews: The Eagles have a plethora of running backs but recent reports state that it’s primarily going to be Darren Sproles and Mathews getting the work. This is good news, because Washington has struggled against the run and Mathews has displayed a nose for the end zone. In terms of Washington’s 24.4 points per game allowed this season, 39.3 percent has come from rushing touchdowns. That’s one of the higher marks in the league. Mathews saw 22 carries in Week 1 and saw 11 carries last week, so hopefully we get a number close to their former amount.

The Verdict: Mathews. These two should be close, but Mathews has the edge.

WIDE RECEIVERS

John Brown (vs. NYJ) or Tavon Austin (@DET)

The Case for Brown: Brown is one of my favorite plays of this week. The Jets have been decimated by opposing wide receivers, allowing a whopping 15.9 yards per catch mark through five games this season. Opposing wideouts have scored seven touchdowns on the season against this defense, so it’s really hard not to get excited about Brown in this one. Pittsburgh’s Sammie Coates is a deep burner, like Brown, and he had a solid showing last week. The speedy Arizona receiver has a 10-catch game on his resume this season and when game time rolls around on Sunday, quarterback Carson Palmer will know where this guy is at all times.

The Case for Austin: Personally, I’m not a big fan of this guy, but it’s hard to deny that he has a matchup that certainly leans in his favor. The Detroit defense is allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing pass catchers this season and Austin is the top wide receiver on his team. He’s received five or more touches in all but one game and while he will need a touchdown to be useful in fantasy formats, this could be the week he gets touchdown No. 2. He also gets some work in the return game, so he has three opportunities to find the end zone. He is coming off a seven reception game and he should be in store for a similar workload this week.

The Verdict: Brown. Love him this week.

Tyler Lockett (vs. ATL) or Robert Woods (vs. SF)

The Case for Lockett: This is my favorite sneaky play of the week. Lockett has been garbage except for Week 2 when he put up 99 yards on four catches. In his defense, he was playing injured, but the bye week should have helped him get healthy. Coach Pete Carroll said he looks good and should have a bigger role this week than week’s prior. Excellent, sign me up. Sixty percent of their points per game allowed have come from receiving touchdowns this season. Russell Wilson is going to light up the scoreboard and Lockett is going to be the recipient of one deep touchdown in this contest.

The Case for Woods: Due to the injury to Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods is the No. 1 receiver in Buffalo moving forward. Tyrod Taylor dinks and dunks to LeSean McCoy often and looks to tight end Charles Clay with regularity, but in terms of his receiving core, Woods is his most reliable chain mover. Marquise Goodwin is the deep threat, but Woods is the route running technician Taylor desperately needs. He hauled in seven passes for 89 yards against New England in Week 4, but he had a precipitous drop off last week. He doesn’t have an ideal matchup, but he’s still a guy you’re likely going have to start. Consider him a WR3 at best this week.

The Verdict: Lockett. Lock him in.

TIGHT ENDS

Zach Ertz (@WSH) or Gary Barnidge (@TEN)

The Case for Ertz: Being a good fantasy player means having a short memory. He had an excellent matchup last week against Detroit but under delivered. The Redskins are right around league average in terms of defending defensive ends, but Ertz is still a low-end TE1 for me in Week 6. In his last three games against the Redskins, he’s caught 30 passes on 38 targets for 248 yards. Keep in mind that one of those games was a two-catch dud. It’s been hit or miss against Washington in his career, but seeing as Washington has boosted the cornerback position, it could mean a lot of Carson Wentz to Ertz on Sunday.

The Case for Barnidge: Over the last two weeks, it’s actually Gary Barnidge who leads Cleveland with 15 targets and 133 receiving yards. His target share continues to go up and his workload alone should keep him useful in a tough matchup against this Tennessee defense. They have allowed just one touchdown to opposing tight ends this season, but they have truly yet to face a tight end at Barnidge’s caliber. They did face Kyle Rudolph in Week 1, but that was before Sam Bradford realized what he had in his tight end. Barnidge is a legitimate TE2 this week.

The Verdict: Ertz. He won’t disappoint twice in a row.

You can find me on Twitter @colbyrconway