Best QB-WR combos
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by Behbigben15
Yesterday, I wrote an article on my top ten best RB duos in the NFL, today I wrote the sequel, top ten best QB-WR combos. The NFL really doesn't have too many good QB-WR combinations so if you think some of them don't belong there, then write your own. Here are mine.
10. Buffalo Bills: J.P. Losman/Lee Evans- Last year was really the only year that these two have been together for a majority of the season, but boy did they click. Losman and Evans is possibly the most underrated passing combo since the Bills have almost always been on the bottom of their division since the '90's. Evans last year was one of the top fantasy receivers, he caught 82 passes for 1,292 yards and 8 TD's, that's pretty decent for a receiver on a losing team. Evans was without a doubt the best receiver from the AFC East last year, this combo would be higher if Losman was more of a Brady-type QB instead of an average QB, and if the Bills had a great RB to help out the offense.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger/Hines Ward- Ward is an outstanding receiver, but his numbers don't usually show it, the Steelers run most of the time, but when Ward is needed, he comes through and makes a big play. Roethlisberger throws to many of the Steelers younger receivers most times, but if it goes Ward's way, count on it being caught for a good gain. Most of you would probably leave Roethlisberger/Ward off this list, and many would also say that I only put them on here because I am a Steelers fan, but alot of times you can't count on numbers, but instead reliability. If you're a QB that relies on your WR, then you expect the ball to be caught when it is thrown to you, Ward makes me think of Derek Jeter, clutch. Many times on third down its is thrown to Ward, and is completed for a first down. Ward had 74 catches for 975 yards last year, Ward is also very consistent, and a great blocker who happens to love blocking as much catching balls.
8. Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo/Terrell Owens- Many say Romo was a fluke, but I think differently. With receivers like Glenn, and T.O. how can he be a fluke? Just throw the ball to Owens, and let him do the hard work. Terrell Owens is a top five fantasy receiver, with 85 receptions, 1,180 yards, and 8 TD's. Romo had a very high completion percentage (65.3), but of course, who wouldn't? If T.O. behaves himself, he could have another top five fantasy year, and Romo and T.O. could find themselves back in the playoffs. (Tip for Wade Phillips: Don't let Romo hold the ball on FG's). Like them or not, Romo/T.O. are eighth on my list.
7. Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme/Steve Smith- Steve Smith will once again be the spotlight, and go-to guy in Carolina (after Keyshawn Johnson's retirement). If Delhomme doesn't struggle like last year, and puts up numbers like his '04 year (3,886 passing yards, 29 TD's/15 INT's) then Smith should put up the same numbers he had before the Panthers signed Keyshawn Johnson before last year. Delhomme will have to limit his INT's if he doesn't want to lose his job to former Houston Texan QB, David Carr. Smith must be happy to not have to share his passes with decoy Keyshawn Johnson, and possibly a future HOFer. Last year, Johnson recorded 70 receptions for 815 yards and 4 TD's, Smith probably could have gotten over 100 receptions, for over 1,500 yards, and possibly 15 TD's, that would have been unbelievable. Instead, Smith just put up pro bowl numbers, 83 receptions for 1,166 yards and 8 TD's. Look for Smith to once again break 1500 Receiving yards again this year.
6. Baltimore Ravens: Steve McNair/Derrick Mason- McNair have been together for one year with the Baltimore Ravens in '06 (Mason: 68 receptions for 750 yards, and 2 TD's), but the two were also together from 1997-2004 with the Tennessee Oilers/Titans. During those 9 years (including '06 with Ravens) the two have had 521 receptions, 6,864 yards, and 39 receiving TD's. This is without a doubt a great passing combination. This combo would be higher, but since I am doing current combos then I can't really put them much higher than number three.
5. Green Bay Packers: Brett Favre/Donald Driver- Favre is slowing down every year, but this is still the fifth best passing combo. A big reason for these two guys being such a big threat, is because they are always playing. Driver has started all sixteen games in the past two seasons, and has only missed six games since 2002. Favre, on the other hand, hasn't missed a game since 1992, and since then, has started all sixteen of the games. That is an unbelievable feat, getting hit every Sunday, and having enough passion for the game to keep getting up every Monday and starting all over again. Favre is an obvious first-ballot HOFer, that is, if he EVER retires. In '06 Driver caught 92 passes for 1,295 yards and 8 TD's, that is at least a top ten fantasy WR, and is Pro Bowl numbers. These two guys will be a big threat until the day Favre retires, and who knows, maybe after that Aaron Rodgers, and Donald Driver will do the same thing after Favre retires.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Matt Leinart/Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin- This is really a trio, but I am counting it as a combo. First, they have got a great QB, as a rookie last year Leinart started 11 games. Leinart's numbers weren't that great, but he has a great arm, and is just starting to warm-up. Leinart had a 58.6 Completion percentage, and a 74.0 QB Rating, that is not great, I know, but just wait till this year, he should bring that up to a 65.0 completion percentage, and probably about an 80 or 85 QB Rating, that would be enough to lift the Arizona offense in the right direction. Leinart has two great receivers to throw to, first we have Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald caught 69 passes for 946 yards, and 6 TD's, thats not the greatest, but i'll take it considering he has another Pro Bowl receiver to share the passes with. Anquan Boldin, Arizona's second Pro Bowl receiver caught 83 passes for 1,203 yards and 4 TD's, many teams who only have one great WR can't even get that, but he has to split the passes withLarry Fitzgerald, that is amazing.
3. St. Louis Rams: Marc Bulger/Torry Holt- Bulger is another fortunate QB, like Matt Leinart, he has two great receivers to throw to, but I only put one of them on here since the other (Issac Bruce) is slowing down. Bulger, who has put up Pro Bowl numbers in two of the last three season (2004, and 2006), would certainly not be as great as he is without receivers Torry Holt, and soon-to-retire Isaac Bruce, not to mention the second best fantasy back in Steven Jackson. Holt, who has been with the Rams since they won the SB in 1999, is a Pro Bowler possibly a future HOFer. Holt has had seven 1000-yard seasons in his eight career seasons, although they have declined since 2003, I would still put this combo as number 3, because of the fact that Holt still has Pro Bowl numbers, as well as Bulger. Bulger's best year was in 2005, but expect another season like his fantastic 2006 season. Isaac Bruce is still a great WR, even at age 34, Bruce caught 74 passes for 1,098 yards and 3 TD's. Bruce has had eight 1000-yd seasons since his rookie year in 1994 with the L.A. Rams. In just his second season in the NFL, Bruce caught a career high, 119 balls, for another career high 1,781 yards for yet another career high in TD's (13), Bruce is also a future HOFer. What a trio of talent, two future HOFers at WR, and a Pro Bowl QB. Fantastic.
2. Cincinnati Bengals: Carson Palmer/Chad Johnson- Palmer is emerging into a great QB, while Chad "Ocho-Cinco" Johnson is already at the top of his game, not o mention underrated T.J. "Who's your mama" Houshmandzadeh. Palmer is a Pro Bowl QB, who has great receivers, Palmer had career highs in '06 in passing yards (4,035), and attempts (520), although no season will beat his 2005 season when he threw for 3,836 yards, for 32 TD's (career-high), and just 12 INT's (career-low), and a 67.8 Comp. pct. (career-high) along wit ha career high QB Rating with a 101.1 Rating. Chad Johnson is one of the NFL's best WR's, in '06 he caught 87 passes for 1,369 yards and 7 TD's, in '05 he had a much better year catching 97 passes for 1,432 yards and 9 TD's. Houshmandzadeh is a future Pro Bowler for the Bengals, who, in 2006 caught 90 passes for 1,081 yards and 9 TD's. This team has a great offense, with a Pro Bowl QB, two Pro Bowl WR, and a Pro Bowl RB in Rudi Johnson.
1. Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning/Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne- In case you haven't already noticed, numbers four through two were really QB-WR Trios, and all of them have a great RB, too. Well this one is no different from them, and i'm sure most of you saw this coming. Peyton Manning recently won his long awaited SB championship, and he couldn't have done it without his two Pro Bowl WR's, and his rookie RB. Manning is a sure HOFer, I don't even need to go over his stats, most of you should know how good he is, but I will tell you how he fared last year, he threw for over 4,000 yards for the seventh time in his career (4,397), and threw for 31 TD's ,and just 9 INT's. He had a QB Rating of 101.0, which was actually third best in his career. Manning has had alot of help from his future HOF WR Marvin Harrison, Harrison had 95 catches for 1,366 yards and 12 TD's, while the second WR on the Colts, Reggie Wayne, who also made the Pro Bowl, had 86 receptions for 1,310 yards and 9 TD's. Both Manning and Harrison are definite HOFers, and together Manning and Harrison have a combined fifteen Pro Bowls, and then add Wayne's one Pro Bowl to make sixteen. If you don't think that Manning-Harrison/Wayne is the best combo/trio in the NFL today, and possibly in NFL history, then you have got problems.
