NFL Picks Week 4: Projecting the MVP For All 16 Games

For every game played, there's always that one player who rises above the rest and shines the brightest on the field.

Sometimes it can be the same player if they perform at a high level of consistency, or a new guy can take center stage.

Nonetheless, each game has an MVP (whether their team wins or loses), so here is one for each of the 16 games in Week 4.

Detroit at Dallas

Right now it appears that WR Miles Austin is out for Dallas, while Detroit's Calvin Johnson may not be 100 percent, since he has a bad ankle.

However, since Dallas has a great front seven combined with a decent pass defense, Detroit must rely on RB Jahvid Best on screens, draws, shovel passes and check-downs to effectively move the ball.

As for the Cowboys, they're still too banged up to keep pace, but their offensive effort displays much hope for the remainder of the season.

MVP: Jahvid Best (125 total yards, two TDs)

Carolina at Chicago

For each team, this game could be very telling as to how the 2011 season plays out.

Carolina has rookie QB Cam Newton rolling along with WR Steve Smith, and while although the Bears have been disappointing, QB Jay Cutler does get somewhat back on track in Week 4.

But WR Steve Smith dominates a vulnerable Chicago defense and continues to help Newton develop.

MVP: Steve Smith (seven catches for 140 yards and one TD)

Buffalo at Cincinnati

The Bengals have a solid defense overall, but have not faced an offense quite like Buffalo's.

In addition, Cincy continues to hurt themselves off the field, while the Bills are bringing back memories from the early 1990s.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick plays well, but RB Fred Jackson has averaged of 100 yards each game and keeps the Buffalo offense multidimensional.

MVP: Fred Jackson (150 total yards, two TDs)

Tennessee at Cleveland

The Titans took a big hit with WR Kenny Britt getting injured, and combine that with the Browns' solid defense and it's going to be more difficult for Tennessee to move the ball.

Cleveland gets RB Peyton Hillis back this week, but the Titans have a Top 10 defense that keeps rolling.

However, since RB Chris Johnson continues to struggle, and with Britt out, Browns' CB Joe Haden plays even better than last week when he blanketed Miami's Brandon Marshall.

MVP: Joe Haden (Eight tackles, one interception, four pass deflects)

Minnesota at Kansas City

It's a battle of 0-3 teams, but even though the game is at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs have way too many significant injuries to keep up with the Vikings.

That said, RB Adrian Peterson owns the scoreboard with his best game thus far in 2011.

MVP: Adrian Peterson (200 total yards, three TDs)

Washington at St. Louis

The key for both teams in this game is getting pressure on the QB.

St. Louie's Sam Bradford is better than Rex Grossman, but he's still young and the Redskins could confuse him a little easier.

Grossman, however, just can't get knocked around too much, because he'll quickly lose confidence like he did on Monday.

Rams' DE Chris Long takes advantage of a weak Washington offensive line.

MVP: Chris Long (Six tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble)

New Orleans at Jacksonville

The Saints simply have too much fire power for the Jags to keep up with, and although RB Maurice Jones-Drew has another solid performance, it's nothing compared to what QB Drew Brees can do.

Brees stays in the NFL MVP race, and The Big Easy keeps making it look easy.

MVP: Drew Brees (350 passing yards, four TDs)

Pittsburgh at Houston

This is arguably the biggest game of the week, and the biggest game to this point in 2011 for each franchise.

But, for as much talent as Pittsburgh has, the Texans have WR Andre Johnson, who exploits the Steelers' pass defense even more than the Indianapolis Colts' pass defense.

MVP: Andre Johnson (seven catches for 120 yards and two TDs)

San Francisco at Philadelphia

With QB Mike Vick not going to be 100 percent, and the 49ers focusing on stopping him, RB LeSean McCoy becomes the game's biggest player.

Defensively, the Eagles pick up the pace and shut down San Fran as well.

MVP: LeSean McCoy (125 total yards, two TDs)

NY Giants at Arizona

The Giants win this game, as they are the better overall team, but Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald proves to be unstoppable.

Being the biggest threat on a one-dimensional offense, the Giants manage to completely dominate in the trenches (on both sides), but Fitz exposes New York's weakness of pass defense.

MVP: Larry Fitzgerald (Nine catches for 130 yards and two TDs)

Atlanta at Seattle

The Seahawks have an underrated defense, but a very weak offense.

QB Matt Ryan and the Falcons start off slow, but they pick up the pace and keep it rolling in the second half.

MVP: Matt Ryan (300 passing yards, three TDs)

Miami at San Diego

The Chargers completely dominate this game, as the Dolphins aren't feeling too confident after losing in Cleveland with RB Peyton Hillis out.

San Diego is starting off slow, but thanks to the weak early schedule, they get those few extra wins and Philip Rivers remains one of the NFL's elite QBs.

MVP: Philip Rivers (325 passing yards, three TDs)

New England at Oakland

QB Tom Brady continues to roll, as the Raiders have a weak pass defense, but RB Darren McFadden proves to be the game's best player as he destroys a very weak Patriots defense.

Thereafter, McFadden enters the NFL MVP race along with Brady, Brees and Rodgers.

MVP: Darren McFadden (225 total yards, three TDs)

Denver at Green Bay

QB Aaron Rodgers shreds a Denver defense that, although it has improved, is still nowhere near the level of Green Bay's offense.

In addition, the NFL's best receiving core gets their fair share of targets, while the Packers' defense bowls over the Broncos' offense.

MVP: Aaron Rodgers (320 passing yards, two TDs, one rush TD)

NY Jets at Baltimore

Jets QB Mark Sanchez appears to have been improving with each game, but the Ravens' defense is still hungry despite the beating they gave St. Louis.

Last time Sanchez played Baltimore, they were without Ed Reed, and he still only threw for 74 yards.

MVP: Ed Reed (Five tackles, two interceptions, six pass deflects)

Indianapolis at Tampa Bay

It's a more defensive game than most would expect, but more so in terms of causing turnovers than in terms of not allowing points.

And in this game, there's no one better than Colts DE Dwight Freeney.

MVP: Dwight Freeney (Eight tackles, two sacks, two stuffs, two forced fumbles)

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