{"id":118103,"date":"2021-07-19T13:04:58","date_gmt":"2021-07-19T17:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=118103"},"modified":"2021-07-19T13:26:43","modified_gmt":"2021-07-19T17:26:43","slug":"most-exciting-passing-duos-nfl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/07\/19\/most-exciting-passing-duos-nfl\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Exciting NFL Quarterback Wide Receiver Tandems in the NFL"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the past decade or so, the National Football League has become a passing factory where yardage and touchdown records are broken at a dizzying pace. A staggering <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/stathead.com\/tiny\/5Mvlj\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21 of the top 22 individual seasons for passing yards<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have come since 2011, with Dan Marino&#8217;s 1984 season the lone exception. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passing is fun and the NFL is marketing an entertainment product first and foremost. Many talented quarterbacks are throwing the ball and there is a bevy of receivers in the league to haul in the passes. But which NFL quarterback wide receiver tandems are the most exciting? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are the most exciting passing duos in the NFL, in reverse order. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: Each player is rated out of 10 on the \u2018excitement index\u2019 in parentheses and those numbers are added to get a total excitement rating. For this piece, only wide receivers were considered to pair with quarterbacks. Also, Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, and Mac Jones did not make this list due to them all being rookies and questions surrounding how they will perform, when some of them will see the field and which receiver(s) they will utilize the most.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2>NFL Quarterback Wide Receiver Tandems: Here Are the Most Exciting<\/h2>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Tom Brady (7) and Mike Evans (8) <\/span><\/i><b><i>15 points<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watching <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BradTo00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tom Brady<\/a> is far more clinical than exhilarating most of the time but you can\u2019t argue with the results. And Mike Evans was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/stathead.com\/tiny\/UBNHt\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fourth in the league in touchdown catches<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with 13 last season, Brady&#8217;s first with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/buccaneers\/\" target=\"_self\">Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Dak Prescott (7) and CeeDee Lamb (8) <\/span><\/i><b><i>15 points<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Dallas Cowboys<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will be exciting just to see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/P\/PresDa01.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dak Prescott<\/a> back on the field after his gruesome injury last season. And while the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/cowboys\/\" target=\"_self\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a> have multiple talented receivers, none are as electric as CeeDee Lamb.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Ryan Tannehill (6) and A.J. Brown (9) <\/span><\/i><b><i>15 points<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Tennessee Titans<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Ryan Tannehill is a fine quarterback, he is not an electrifying quarterback that people will be telling their grandkids about. This grade is all about A.J. Brown, who is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Titans\/status\/1364260230310330369?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a nightmare matchup<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for defensive backs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Justin Herbert (9) and Keenan Allen (7) <\/span><\/i><b><i>16 points<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Los Angeles Chargers<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Justin Herbert\u2019s 31 touchdown passes for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/chargers\/\" target=\"_self\">Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> last year were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/stathead.com\/tiny\/HsqmC\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the most by a rookie quarterback<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in NFL history. Keenan Allen is a fine receiver when healthy, and while he might not be the most exciting receiver in the league, he is talented and plenty watchable on Sunday afternoons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[pickup_prop id=&#8221;5367&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Aaron Rodgers (8) and Davante Adams (8) <\/span><\/i><b><i>16 points<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Green Bay Packers<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sadly, fans <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nfl\/article\/aaron-rodgers-returning-packers-dont-know-well-see\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">may not see this duo perform together<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> again. Aaron Rodgers\u2019 Hall of Fame career is unassailable and he does it with a dramatic flair that is heart-racing even for non-<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/packers\/\" target=\"_self\">Green Bay Packers<\/a> fans. Adams caught an absurd 18 touchdowns in 2020 to lead the league and somehow still does not seem to get the credit he deserves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Lamar Jackson (10) and Marquise Brown (6)<\/span><\/i><b><i> 16 points <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Baltimore Ravens<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lamar Jackson gets a perfect score because he is a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Ravens\/status\/1193616970601635840?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> video game cheat code<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> come to life. There is nothing more exciting in the league than Red Zone cutting to a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/ravens\/\" target=\"_self\">Baltimore Ravens<\/a> game while Scott Hansen tries to slow play what he is about to show you. Marquise &#8220;Hollywood&#8221; Brown has been OK in his first two campaigns, and has highlight-reel plays to his credit, but he needs to be more consistent to boost his rating moving forward, which would push this tandem into the upper echelon in the NFL.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Russell Wilson (8) and D.K. Metcalf (9) <\/span><\/i><b><i>17 points<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Seattle Seahawks<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Russell Wilson\u2019s consistent greatness with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/seahawks\/\" target=\"_self\">Seattle Seahawks<\/a> continued in the 2020 season with 40 touchdown passes and over 500 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, D.K. Metcalf runs down the field like a gazelle who spends six hours per day at the gym. It is possible that a score of nine may be shortchanging just how fun he really is to watch each week.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Josh Allen (9) and Stefon Diggs (8) <\/span><\/i><b><i>17 points<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Buffalo Bills<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Josh Allen used to be exciting for altogether different reasons, but a breakout 2020 season makes him a must-watch player now. If you like quarterbacks who throw 37 touchdowns and run for another eight, he is your guy. Stefon Diggs caught a league-best 127 passes for over 1,500 yards after coming to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/bills\/\" target=\"_self\">Buffalo Bills<\/a> from the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/vikings\/\" target=\"_self\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a>. Allen definitely liked his new target last year.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Kyler Murray (9) and DeAndre Hopkins (9) <\/span><\/i><b><i>18 points<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Arizona Cardinals<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kyler Murray\u2019s first two seasons in the NFL, both with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/cardinals\/\" target=\"_self\">Arizona Cardinals<\/a> have been an absolute delight to watch. He can make all the passes and run down the field like an RC car full of Red Bull. The former first overall pick ran for 819 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DeAndre Hopkins is as thrilling as any wide receiver in football. How the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/texans\/\" target=\"_self\">Houston <\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Texans traded him for <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/johnbreech\/status\/1328133043014553602?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pennies<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the dollar (sorry, David Johnson) is utterly beyond comprehension. There would not be a more exciting combination in all of football if not for the duo listed at number one.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><i>1. Patrick Mahomes (10) and Tyreek Hill (9) <\/i><b><i>19 points<\/i><\/b><i> &#8211; Kansas City Chiefs<\/i><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is as perfect a combination as the excitement index has seen in its brief life. Patrick Mahomes is not only the best quarterback in football but also the most riveting with his improvisation skills and arm, which resembles a rocket launcher. Tyreek Hill is a perfect 10 most weeks as well but is docked ever so slightly for not catching the ball quite as frequently as his targets would suggest. This is nitpicking though because when he does catch the ball he is always a threat to score. Hill racked up 15 touchdowns on 87 catches in 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[pickup_prop id=&#8221;5473&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notable Omissions<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n<h4><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matt Ryan (6) and Calvin Ridley (7) <\/span><\/i><b><i>13 points <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/falcons\/\" target=\"_self\">Atlanta Falcons<\/a> <\/span><\/i><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are effective of course, just not that exciting, except in the fourth quarter when all bets are off.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kirk Cousins (5) and Justin Jefferson (8) <\/span><\/i><b><i>13 points<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/vikings\/\" target=\"_self\"> Minnesota Vikings<\/a> <\/span><\/i><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The issue here is it is difficult to get too excited about Kirk Cousins.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joe Burrow (7) and Ja\u2019Marr Chase (7) <\/span><\/i><b><i>14 points <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/bengals\/\" target=\"_self\">Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bayou reunion could move way up the list after the 2021 season, but they cannot crack the top-1o of quarterback wide receiver tandems yet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"Txdtr5psQL1XADY9jsOxKw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1195493737\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Txdtr5psQL1XADY9jsOxKw',sig:'iemGpyIn7zS6Ygi3nDlSnvVbZFdD_z_g7zF_F6f5Cjo=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1195493737',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most exciting NFL quarterback wide receiver tandems in the NFL. The NFL is a passing league. Here are the most exciting duos in the league.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3940,"featured_media":118133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[7702,7811,7328,7288,7638],"class_list":["post-118103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","tag-bills-featured","tag-chiefs-featured","tag-dallas-cowboys-roster","tag-green-bay-packers-roster","tag-ravens-featured"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3940"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118103"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118103\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}