Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 10: Top Performers to Hold out of Lineups

Fantasy football creates mind-numbing dilemmas on a weekly basis, especially when top-flight stars are facing difficult opponents.

Several big names are up against long odds to be No. 1-caliber fantasy options in Week 10 based on their respective matchups. Starting or sitting such players can make or break a game in fantasy, so owners have to exercise special caution when approaching these delicate situations.

However, find out why the following typically strong point accumulators are starters to avoid without a doubt and hold out of lineups just for this weekend.

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys

This is a confluence of bad circumstances for the often maligned signal-caller of America's Team.

Last week's fourth-quarter interception and subsequent stunning comeback to beat the Minnesota Vikings was redemptive for Romo in a way, as he led yet another clutch drive down the stretch:

Unfortunately, Romo is walking into a dangerous scenario in the Superdome in facing the New Orleans Saints, where the court of public opinion is likely to go against him yet again.

Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has turned around the Saints unit, while Dallas is faring even worse than it did under Ryan with Monte Kiffin calling the shots this season.

There is familiarity there for Romo in reading Ryan's alignments, but Saints quarterback Drew Brees is in line to light up the Cowboys pass defense, which ranks 31st in the league in allowing well over 305 yards per game.

That will create plenty of chances for Romo to have the ball in his hands, but he will likely force the issue and suffer with multiple turnovers. It's a fat chance the Cowboys will establish much of a running game against Brees and Co., especially after they had just nine rush attempts in Week 9.

All of those factors make Romo a discouraging fantasy option on Sunday night in prime time.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

At least Forte can rely on Jay Cutler being back under center, which should allow him to be able to catch several passes out of the backfield.

But the opponent plays a factor here. Forte ran for 125 yards last week on the Green Bay Packers' top-five rush defense, but the Pack also had Seneca Wallace at quarterback. That afforded the Bears the luxury of pounding the rock in a relentless manner.

Such won't be the case against the Detroit Lions in a battle for NFC North supremacy. The Lions' defensive front is dominated by Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley on the inside, and that alone threatens to stymie Forte.

Cutler can more easily carve up a suspect Lions secondary than Forte can break through a tricky front seven featuring Stephen Tulloch and DeAndre Levy that ranks in the top half in the league in rush defense.

The flow of the game won't bode well for Forte, as the Bears defense should get rocked by Detroit QB Matthew Stafford, RB Reggie Bush and superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

Chicago's own defensive line is depleted by injuries, so Forte likely won't get the touches nor the foundational focus he's grown accustomed to under first-year head coach Marc Trestman.

Forte is an excellent option in just about any other week, but not against the Lions.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

In his last matchup against a top-flight secondary, Fitzgerald reeled in just two catches for 17 yards on five targets in a loss to the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks.

The Houston Texans have the league's best pass defense and sport a pass rush led by reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt.

That's bad news for Fitzgerald, whose quarterback, Carson Palmer, can't escape trouble due to a lack of nimbleness.

One has to wonder how head coach and play-caller Bruce Arians can keep dialing up deep passing plays in the midst of all that. It's clear Palmer can't handle the heat well, as his mechanics have been thrown for a loop and caused a myriad of turnovers:

Fitzgerald may get a nice gain or two, but it isn't worth counting on him for too much in Week 10. Expect a lot of Palmer sacks and a couple of interceptions, with Fitzgerald being bracketed in double coverage throughout.

Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers

There isn't much to like about Olsen as he prepares to take on the San Francisco 49ers in one of the biggest games Week 10 has to offer.

Olsen has produced touchdowns in each of the previous two weeks, but those opponents were the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons, who allow 27.2 points per game—26th in the NFL.

This is the 49ers, and it's on the road at Candlestick Park. As Olsen's ESPN.com profile highlights, San Francisco gives up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends.

What doesn't help is that Olsen has only been targeted 17 times total over the past four games, in spite of a strong rapport with QB Cam Newton:

Although Olsen is 6'5", 250 pounds and the definitive top red-zone target for Newton, it is unclear how much time the Panthers will spend that close to the end zone. That is predicated on how well they can establish the run—and how well the defense stops San Francisco's top-ranked rushing attack.

Star San Francisco sack specialist Aldon Smith is returning in a limited role, per NFL.com's Chris Wesseling, who cited a TV report from his colleague Ian Rapoport.

That should help the Niners even more in their efforts to shut down a rolling Carolina team, and cover linebackers such as NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis can also keep Olsen at bay.