Fantasy Football Week 4 Projections: Predicting the Top Scorer From Each Game

Every fantasy football owner is always looking for that sleeper who can help put them over the top, but the production you receive from your studs is ultimately what is going to to decide if you're watching football intently in the month of December or spending your Sundays doing some last-minute Christmas shopping.

In the regular season, every week is as important as the next, so wins in Week 4 will be vital in your quest for the playoffs. Generally speaking, offense has been soaring in the NFL this season, meaning fantasy scores have been up. This puts even more importance on your franchise players.

Here is a breakdown of every Week 4 game and a prediction as to which player will be that game's biggest fantasy contributor.

Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears: RB Matt Forte

Despite having just 119 rushing yards through three games this season, Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte has been very effective to this point thanks to his 22 catches for 287 yards. While he will remain involved in the passing game, I expect the Bears to get Forte going on the ground on Sunday.

A lack of balance has doomed Chicago over the past two weeks against the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers, so I think they will get back to what made them NFC North champions last year. Forte will be key, as he will help the Bears keep the ball out of the hands of Carolina's Cam Newton.

Projection: 105 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, one touchdown

Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Steve Johnson

Why so serious?

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson burst onto the fantasy scene last year when he caught eight balls for 137 yards and three scores against the Cincinnati Bengals, and revealed his Dark Knight-inspired "Why so serious?" t-shirt.

Johnson has picked up where he left off last season by catching 20 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns in Buffalo's explosive offense.

The Bengals certainly won't match up with Johnson any better this season as the secondary took a hit with the loss of cornerback Jonathan Joseph to free agency. The Bills are significantly better in the second year of Chan Gailey's spread offense and should continue to shred the opposition through the air.

Projection: Seven catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns

Tennessee Titans vs. Cleveland Browns: RB Chris Johnson

Considered to be perhaps the most explosive running back in all of football, Tennessee Titans runner Chris Johnson has gotten off to an inauspicious start. Just two years removed from a 2,000-yard season, Johnson has only 98 yards on the ground through three games this season.

Some of this can be attributed to Johnson sitting out all of training camp due to a contract dispute, but the Titans have also been heavily committed to the passing game. With wide receiver Kenny Britt out for the season, though, Tennessee will likely have a renewed commitment to the run, particularly against a Cleveland team that allowed solid games to Cedric Benson and Daniel Thomas this season.

Projection: 135 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards, two touchdowns

Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys: QB Matthew Stafford

Everyone knew that Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had the physical tools to succeed if he could stay healthy, and with a clean bill of health this season, Stafford has developed into one of the league's best signal callers. Stafford has led Detroit to a 3-0 record and has thrown for 977 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

The Lions will face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in what could certainly be a shootout. The Cowboys are certainly vulnerable against the pass, as they proved in Week 1 against the New York Jets, and they have yet to face a quarterback as talented as Stafford.

Expect Stafford's incredible roll to continue this week.

Projection: 325 yards, three touchdowns, one interception

Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs: RB Adrian Peterson

The Minnesota Vikings have gotten off to an 0-3 start, but it hasn't been the fault of all-world running back Adrian Peterson. Through three games Peterson has 296 yards rushing and three touchdowns and figures to be in for another great game against a Kansas City Chiefs team decimated by injuries.

Peterson should probably have even better numbers if not for the fact that the Vikings have gotten away from the run in the second halves of games. This would probably explain why they have blown three first-half leads already. They won't make the same mistake this week, as Peterson will run wild.

Projection: 145 yards rushing, 20 yards receiving, two touchdowns

Washington Redskins vs. St. Louis Rams: WR Santana Moss

Perhaps the driving force behind the Washington Redskins' surprising 2-1 start has been quarterback Rex Grossman and the passing game. While Grossman has been impressive, a lot of credit should go to No. 1 receiver Santana Moss, who has caught 16 balls for 207 yards and a touchdown through three games.

Moss isn't a surefire, every-week starter in fantasy terms, but he is a very steady producer who is capable of going off a few games every season. I expect Sunday's contest against the St. Louis Rams to be one of those games. The Rams have been burned by speedy receivers like DeSean Jackson and Torrey Smith already, so Moss should have plenty of room to work down the field.

Projection: Six catches for 110 yards and one touchdown

San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Michael Vick

It's pretty safe to say that no team or player have gotten off to more disappointing starts than the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Michael Vick. The Eagles were picked by many to run rampant through the NFC East thanks to a number of offseason acquisitions, but they are currently just 1-2.

After a magical 2010, Vick has struggled as well, due mostly to head and hand injuries that have forced him to leave two games early. Vick is healthy enough to play in Week 4, though, and he and the Eagles will certainly be looking to make a statement. San Francisco's defense has been good to this point, but the quality of opponents has been terrible, so Vick should be able to expose them.

Projection: 265 passing yards, 75 rushing yards, four total touchdowns and two interceptions

New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been the best player in every game he has played in this season, so I don't expect things to be any different when he takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Brees has 1,059 yards and nine touchdowns through three games, and those numbers will only improve this weekend.

Not only is Brees facing a mediocre Jacksonville team, but his No. 1 receiver, Marques Colston, is expected to return from a collarbone injury. The Saints developed a bit of a running game last week as well, so that will certainly bode well for Brees as the Jaguars will have to respect the Saints as a complete offense.

Projection: 335 passing yards and three touchdowns

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans: QB Ben Roethlisberger

The Houston Texans have been among the most-talked-about teams in the NFL this season, but the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be out to prove that they are still the class of the AFC. Roethlisberger hasn't been elite this season, but he does have 942 passing yards and three scores in just three games.

The Houston defense looked much improved after two games, but Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints exposed them last week. The secondary may not be as woeful as it was in 2010, but Roethlisberger should still be able to take advantage. The Steelers have a stable of speedy receivers, so Big Ben could have quite a few big plays on Sunday.

Projection: 310 passing yards, 15 rushing yards, three total touchdowns and two interceptions

New York Giants vs. Arizona Cardinals: WR Hakeem Nicks

Hampered by injuries, New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks hasn't gotten off to the start many have hoped, but a date with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday should cure that.

Nicks has just 14 grabs for 185 yards and one score through three games, but there is no team a receiver would rather see on the schedule than Arizona.

The Cards have been torched through the air this season, particularly by the Carolina Panthers and Washington Redskins, and the Giants figure to have a better passing attack than either of those teams.

Arizona simply doesn't have enough talent in the secondary to hang with premier receivers, so Nicks should be open all day long.

Projection: Seven catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns

Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks: WR Roddy White

Coming off a disappointing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Atlanta Falcons figure to be in a bad mood on Sunday, and they will almost certainly take it out on the over-matched Seattle Seahawks.The Atlanta passing game should be banging on all cylinders, so the main beneficiary will likely be wide receiver Roddy White.

White has decent numbers thus far with 20 catches for 224 yards and a score, but he has yet to have one of those dominant games he had so often in 2010. The Falcons will come out firing and quarterback Matt Ryan will look to White early and often, as Seattle doesn't have anyone in the secondary who can keep up with the impressive White.

Projection: Six catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns

Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers

There may be no more reliable and automatic fantasy player at any position than Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

It's obvious that the Packers' game plan is always to pass at will, so you're almost guaranteed a quality game on a weekly basis. Rodgers has 917 yards and eight touchdowns, and figures to have another big game Sunday.

The Denver Broncos aren't equipped to stop Rodgers and should be in for an extremely long day. Rodgers' complement of weapons is fantastic, and it's almost impossible for opposing defenses to cover all of them. Even if Denver blitzes, Rodgers has the smarts and the escapability to tear them apart and win the game.

Projection: 315 passing yards, 20 rushing yards, four total touchdowns and one interception

New England Patriots vs. Oakland Raiders: QB Tom Brady

Despite throwing four interceptions against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has begun the 2011 season in spectacular fashion. Not only does he have 1,327 yards and 11 touchdowns through three games, but he has also re-established his deadly rapport with wide receiver Wes Welker. 

The Pats will take on the upstart Oakland Raiders this week, and while the Raiders are 2-1, they have been vulnerable against the pass. Both Kyle Orton and Mark Sanchez have thrown for 300 yards against them, and Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three touchdowns against them in Week 2. With all due respect to those quarterbacks, Brady trumps them all and should have another monster game.

Projection: 350 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception

Miami Dolphins vs. San Diego Chargers: QB Philip Rivers

Although he may not be considered among the NFL's elite quarterbacks, San Diego Chargers signal caller Philip Rivers puts up consistently great numbers. Rivers has 979 yards and four touchdowns to this point in the season, and he has what should be a very favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins this weekend.

The Dolphins have struggled against the likes of Tom Brady and Matt Schaub, so Rivers figured to give them fits as well. The emergence of running back Ryan Mathews last week gives the Chargers the threat of the running game as well, so the Dolphins won't be able to over-commit in any one area, allowing Rivers to have a great game.

Projection: 320 yards, three touchdowns and one interception 

New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens: RB Ray Rice

Hampered by a number of injuries last season, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice simply wasn't explosive as he had been in previous years. He looks to be back to his old self this season, however. Rice has been a true dual-threat back, as he has 231 rushing yards, 178 receiving yards and three total touchdowns.

Rice will face a New York Jets defense that was run over by the Oakland Raiders and running back Darren McFadden last week. Rice and McFadden are similar in that they are speedy, big-play backs, so Rice could be very difficult for the Jets to handle. His fantastic receiving ability makes him even more dangerous as well.

Projection: 125 rushing yards, 60 receiving yards and one touchdown

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB LaGarrette Blount

After a highly-disappointing Week 1 effort, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LaGarrette Blount has bounced back with 167 rushing yards and two scores on the season. The Bucs will face a beleaguered Indianapolis Colts defense that has struggled in every phase of the game, so they should be ripe for the picking.

The Colts have never been particularly good at stopping the run, and they could have a lot of trouble bringing down the bulky Blount. Tampa's balanced offense will leave plenty of running lanes for Blount, and he should be able to capitalize when the Buccaneers get down into the red zone.

Projection: 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns