NFL Fantasy Football: Coin Flip Matchup

(Can Mr. Clean do it again?)

With bye weeks stressing you out every week and one-game wonders causing you to race to the waiver wire, fantasy football can tire you out. In a good way, of course.

Still, sometimes it's best to look at your own bench on your own roster, rather than panic and try to attempt a foolish trade that only (might) save your Week Six, but could kill the rest of your season.

Take a look at two positions with two players battling it out for one spot, and hopefully it points you in the right direction.

Kyle Orton, QB, Denver Broncos Vs. Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Both quarterbacks had insanely good stat-lines in Week Five, and both could very well project just as well in Week Six. The trouble is, one plays on Sunday, the other on Monday, and there really isn't a whole lot separating them to make this an easy decision.

Hasselbeck is fresh off of his first game back in which he tossed four touchdowns, and is going up against a very quarterback-friendly Arizona Cardinals passing defense.

The only real knock against playing Hasselbeck is that, while he should play well, it's fairly unlikely he throws four touchdowns two weeks in a row. Also, with running back Julius Jones in a rut, the offense would be doing itself a great disservice to not attempt to get him going again.

Orton, on the other hand, tossed two scores and 330 yards last week against the Patriots, and has a prime-time matchup with the San Diego Chargers, who also aren't great at defending the pass.

Can you say, toss-up?

No, you can't. Not when you're sitting at 2-3, need a win badly, and you're facing the team ahead of you in the standings, and they're 3-2. This is must-win town, baby. Population: you.

As much as I want to vouch for Mr. Clean and the Seattle offense, I just can't see Hasselbeck producing like that for a second straight week. Remember the last time this season we jumped the gun and fell in love with Hasselbeck? Yeah, he hurt his back and screwed us.

Verdict: Orton has awesome options is playing a weak defense in front of the nation. You really think Brandon Marshall is going to waste national face-time without wreaking havoc? No, of course not. Run with neck-beard.

Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins Vs. Thomas Jones, RB, New York Jets

Portis is an interesting problem, as he has only had one game that came close to 100 yards rushing, and last week was his first scoring party (although he did so twice). There's a lot to like from him, simply because his history of scoring and devouring defenses, but also because we know he gets the ball plenty.

But what about Thomas Jones? He, too, hasn't been a yardage fiend since week one, but has found his way to the end-zone three times in the last two games. On that same note, however, Portis evens himself in this competition due to his recent two scores.

So, then, what separates them? Their competition this week.

The Redskins face a hungry and better-than-advertised 0-5 Kansas City team, and they know how to limit the opposing running back. Jones, on the other hand, faces a 1-4, life-less Buffalo squad that made Jamal Lewis look like O.J. Simpson last week.

Jones won't be running wild, but he should have a shot at another score or two.

Verdict: Both backs should provide solid numbers with decent carries and their assigned duties in the red zone. Jones, however, offers more opportunities inside the five, as he already holds five scores to his name in 2009.

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