The 50 Best 1-2 Punches in the NFL Today

In the NFL, having just one big-time star is rarely enough. Having two players who excel at the same position or who can work in unison to multiply each other's effectiveness is the key to gaining an advantage over opponents.

Whether its a tandem at running back, cornerback or wide receiver, teams with depth at a position are usually the ones that find themselves contending for championships year after year. 

Here are the best 50 one-two punches in the NFL. 

Tom Brady and Wes Welker

I tried to limit the amount of QB-WR duos on this list, simply because there are too many; the quarterback-receiver connection is naturally a "one-two" punch. 

However, the Brady-Welker connection is on another level. The Patriots like to use a lot of option routes, which can be effective but very difficult to run without precise timing between quarterback and receiver (which was probably a big reason why Chad Ochocinco was released). 

While the two have yet to win a Super Bowl together, Welker has been Brady's favorite target of his historic career. 

Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie

With the best corner in the universe on one side and a freak-of-nature athlete on the other, these two guys make up what is easily the best corner tandem in the NFL. 

Since being traded to the Jets prior to the 2010 season, Cromartie's play has become a bit more consistent with every season, while Revis has simply dominated the sport, particularly over the last three seasons under Rex Ryan. 

If the Jets can just find a way to get some kind of pass rush without sending the kitchen sink, their defense could truly be special with this pair of corners. 

Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman

While the talents of Patrick Wills are widely recognized by most NFL fans, NaVorro Bowman has carved out a nice start to his career so far. 

In fact, Bowman actually out-tackled his teammate in the regular season by a rather significant margin. If Bowman was on just about any other team, he would be the best linebacker on the field. 

The combination of these two players easily gives the 49ers the best inside linebacker tandem in football. 

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart

This two-headed monster has taken a step back in recent years, but these two backs are good enough to start for at least 25 other teams. 

You could also include Mike Tolbert in this group, but I excluded him mostly because I have not seen him get involved in the crazy, explosion-dodging dance these two get into when they meet on the sideline. 

To me, Stewart is the superior back with less tread on his tires, but with all of the money the Panthers gave to DeAngelo Williams last offseason, he will remain the No. 2 back for the immediate future. 

Roddy White and Julio Jones

As it turns out, the Falcons were more than just a No. 2 receiver away from a Super Bowl, but that does not mean they missed on their 2010 draft pick. 

Julio Jones has as much star potential as any receiver in the league, and Roddy White has already established himself as one of the top threats in the game. It will certainly be exciting to watch these two work off each other for the next few years, or at least until they become unaffordable. 

Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney

Say what you want about the Colts' defense last year, but these two ends have been as deadly on third downs as any pair in the league for the better part of a decade now. 

However, both Mathis and Freeney will try to make the adjustment to outside linebacker as the Colts begin the shift to a base 3-4 defense. 

It remains to be seen whether or not they can continue to be as dominant in their new positions as they once were in their old ones, but based on what they have done in the past, these two edge-rushers are certainly one of, if not the best one-two punches at the position. 

James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley

Standing right beside the likes of Mathis and Freeney are James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, who have established themselves as the gold standard of 3-4 outside linebacker duos in the NFL. 

Not only are these guys both great pass-rushers, but they can also defend the run as well. While they fell off a bit statistically last year, the Steelers are always at or near the top of the list in terms of rushing yards allowed, thanks to the play of these two great players. 

However, Harrison is no spring chicken at age 34, so it remains to be seen just how much longer these two can continue to play at such a high level. 

Arian Foster and Ben Tate

Just a few years ago, the Texans were in a desperate search for a back, using the likes of Steve Slaton to take the bulk of their carries. 

My, how times have changed. 

Now, the Texans have arguably the best running back tandem in the game. Foster is a do-it-all back that has great fluidity to fit the Texans' one-cut running system. Ben Tate, a second-round pick out of Auburn, gives the Texans a physical presence and can handle a full workload if Foster is unhealthy. 

Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch

Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley may make more back-page headlines, but last year, both Avril and Vanden Bosch were more productive players.

Vanden Bosch is certainly on the decline, but Avril has emerged as one of the best speed-rushers in the game. 

Sooner or later, the Lions are going to have to find Avril a new partner, but these two players are still a deadly duo to deal with. 

Rex Ryan and Mike Pettine

Since taking over the Jets in 2009, Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine have produced defenses that have been ranked first, third and fifth in the NFL.

Sure, having Darrelle Revis makes it easier to call coverages, but it was not until Rex Ryan got his hands on Darrelle that “Revis Island” was born.

The Jets certainly have their offensive issues to sort out, but they can go into each season knowing that they will have a top-five type of defense with these two coaches on their roster, which is a luxury few teams have. 

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick

Not only is this duo among the best in the current landscape of the NFL, but you could mention the Brady-Belichick brand of winning in the same breath as the likes of Joe Montana and Bill Walsh.

As long as these two are together, the Patriots are going to have a real chance of winning the Super Bowl every year. 

Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks

Last year, Cruz was one of the biggest surprises of the season, going from a roster-bubble player to one of the most feared receivers in the NFL. He served as a complement to first-round stud Hakeem Nicks.

To me, Nicks is still the superior player, but it is still hard to underestimate the role Cruz played in bringing a Lombardi Trophy to New York. 

Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil

After winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, Von Miller has quickly become recognized as the best young pass-rusher in the NFL.

Meanwhile, Dumervil was able to come back from an injury that ended his 2010 season and provide the Broncos with one of the best pass-rushes in the AFC. 

Peyton Hllis and Jamaal Charles

I tried to limit the amount of "unproven" duos, but the Chiefs may have found a running back tandem that could be the best in football. 

Before his season-ending injury in Week 2 against the Lions, Jamaal Charles was considered to be among the best young backs in the game, particularly when he is in a split-time role. 

Now that he has the big, bruising Peyton Hillis to take a heavy share of the carries, the Chiefs will get a version of Charles that will be just as effective as he was in 2010, assuming he is fully recovered from his injury. 

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd

Although Floyd has yet to step onto the field, he will instantly be the best receiver the Cardinals have had standing opposite Larry Fitzgerald since Anquan Boldin. 

Both players are huge, physical targets that can win jump-ball situations, making them particularly difficult to cover in the red zone. 

Of course, Floyd will need to prove his worth on the field in order to make this duo effective, but there are few receiving corps that I would take over the Cardinals' group right now. 

Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings

As good as Aaron Rodgers was last year, his receiving corps certainly played a huge role in his historically successful season. 

While Jennings is the clear-cut No. 1, Nelson made defenses pay for rolling coverages to Jennings with a 1,263-yard season. 

With Randall Cobb now emerging as a terrific slot receiver, the Packers are going to be set at the receiver position for quite some time. 

Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez

It was not until these two paired up with Tom Brady that the new trend of using tight ends as a focal point of an offense was born. 

Gronkowski is the complete package, both as a receiver and as a blocker, breaking the record for touchdowns by a tight end in a season with 17. 

On the other side, Hernandez is a matchup nightmare with receiver-like speed and catching ability. 

Now that Brandon Lloyd is in New England, it could open up even more opportunities for these two players. 

Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller

At the start of 2011, both of these players' careers were going in opposite directions. Jackson, the incumbent veteran, was having the best season of his career, while Spiller, the ninth overall pick in the 2010 draft, had a tough time getting on the field and becoming the explosive playmaker the Bills hoped he would be. 

However, once Spiller got his chance when Jackson went down with an injury, he showed the kind of playmaking ability the Bills were always hoping to get out of him. 

Going forward, I would expect the Bills to be more confident in Spiller and use a two-back system that will get the most out of both players. 

Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg

Andy Reid certainly takes a ton of heat coaching in Philly, but there is no denying that his offenses are among the best in the NFL year after year. 

Behind the scenes of the Michael Vick resurrection is offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. One could also look at the careers of Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb and find a correlation between level of success and the presence of Mornhinweg. 

Whether or not the Eagles finally get their championship this year remains to be seen, but there is little doubt that they will be an offensive powerhouse with these two calling the shots. 

Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs

The Saints were unable to keep Carl Nicks in free agency, but they were at least able to replace him with a top-level talent in Ben Grubbs. 

While New Orleans has built a reputation on being a high-flying passing team, the play of their guards has been crucial to their success in becoming a balanced offense. 

While Grubbs is a bit of a downgrade from Nicks, this is still one of the best guard duos in football. 

David Akers and Andy Lee

In 2011, no team had a better combination of special teams and defense than the 49ers. 

Andy Lee was by far the best punter in the game according to B/R's own Matt Miller. In his first season away from Philadelphia, Akers had a resurgent season, hitting 44 of 52 field goals. 

The 49ers had a tough time sticking the ball in the end zone, so they were particularly reliant on their specialists to make up for their lack of explosion on offense. 

Jason Babin and Trent Cole

The Eagles may have struggled against the run last year, despite spending a quality amount of cash improving their defensive line. 

However, their pass rush was about as good as any team's in the league last year, thanks to the work done by Jason Babin and Trent Cole. 

Babin was a perfect complement to Cole, notching 18 sacks. As the Eagles continue to improve their defense in the back end, the sack totals will continue to rise. 

Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul/Osi Umenyiora

I had to include all three of the Giants' defensive ends, since all of them would be the best end on about 25 other teams. 

Tuck, despite being nearly invisible for most of the regular season as he battled injuries, came on during the playoffs and had a big Super Bowl. When healthy, Tuck is one of the best defensive players in the game. 

On the other side, Jason Pierre-Paul is a physical freak of nature that should only get better with time to work on his technique. Osi Umenyiora is more of a pure pass-rusher, which limits his snaps, but he gives the Giants one of the best third-down pass-rushes in the game. 

Brent Grimes and Asante Samuel

Now that Brent Grimes has come into his own as one of the premier corners in the game, Atlanta had a tough time trying to find someone opposite him. 

After giving Dunta Robinson a boatload of money as Dave Choate of thefalcoholic.com notes, the Falcons decided that he was better suited to be their slot corner, which led to the trade for Asante Samuel. 

Samuel is a great fit in the Falcons' scheme as a zone corner, but he will also give them a huge edge in game-changing turnovers and make the Falcons' defense more "explosive."

Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor

Safeties are not easy to come by in this pass-happy league, but the Seahawks are one of the few teams that are set at the position. 

Earl Thomas has quietly become on the best ball hawks in the NFC with seven career interceptions in just two seasons as a pro. 

On the other side, Virginia Tech product Kam Chancellor has been a huge asset as a hard-hitting strong safety and made the Pro Bowl last season, despite being just a fifth-round pick two years ago.  

Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo

In order to compete with all of the other great quarterbacks in the NFC East, the Redskins have made it a priority to get themselves a pair of linebackers that can get consistent pressure, while still being able to stay on the field for run downs.

Orakpo, who has been a stud since his rookie season, is coming off a strong nine-sack season. Ryan Kerrigan had a productive rookie season for himself, logging 7.5 sacks.  

With these two players in place, the Redskins are set at a key defensive position for several years.

Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle

Like Seattle, the Giants are one of a few teams that can say they have two quality starters at the safety position. 

While Antrel Rolle did not have his best season in 2011, he was forced to play out of position because of injures to other members of the secondary. 

Kenny Phillips was able to find a way to come back from a career-threatening injury to give the Giants the best safety tandem in the NFC East.

Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus

It certainly makes sense that the Bills are moving back to a 4-3 defense. Not only does it allow Mario Williams to play his natural position at defensive end, but it also puts Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus right next to each other at defensive tackle. 

Williams is easily one of the best in the game at his position, but he has struggled to stay healthy as of late. Dareus had a terrific rookie season and looks the part for the third overall pick in the draft. 

As long as these two stay healthy, you would be hard-pressed to find a better defensive tackle pair in the game. 

Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson

Andy Reid has always been a huge believer in the deep passing game, and these two dynamic receivers allow the Eagles to be one of the most explosive offenses in the game year in and year out. 

DeSean Jackson gets most of the attention because of his personality and on-field antics, but I may prefer Jeremy Maclin as a player with more potential. 

Still, both players are a threat to score at any time. Finding a way to cover both of them at the same time has robbed defensive coordinators countless hours of sleep. 

DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer

This combo may make Cowboys fans shake their heads, but the truth is that Ware and Spencer are the foundation of the Cowboys' defense. 

Ware is the best at his position, without much argument. Spencer, on the other hand, has been a bit of a disappointment as a pass-rusher since being a first-round pick in 2007. 

However, Spencer is a terrific run player and applies enough pressure to allow Ware to not get as many double-teams. While his lack of big-time sack numbers makes some Cowboys fans groan, there are a lot of teams that would love to have these two as their outside linebacker tandem. 

Domata Peko and Geno Atkins

To be honest, I mostly put these two on the list so that Geno Atkins would finally get some love for his incredible 2011 season that went largely unnoticed. 

Atkins had 7.5 sacks last season, but those numbers alone do not tell the story of how effective he was defending the run and providing consistent pressure. 

Peko is a nice player in his own right, but he does not get the kind of penetration Atkins does. He is better suited as a run-stuffer than as a sack artist.

Vontae Davis and Sean Smith

Despite their claims to the contrary per the Sun-Sentinel, these two are not the best tandem in the league, but they are a solid pair of corners nonetheless. 

Davis, a first-round pick in 2009, is the superior player and will usually cover the opponents' top receiver. Sean Smith, picked a round later, is a bit more inconsistent, but he has been a quality complement to Davis locking down the No. 2 spot. 

Miles Austin and Dez Bryant

When both of these receivers are healthy, you would have a tough time finding a more dynamic pair of wideouts. 

Dez Bryant has a chance to be one of the best in the game if he could just find a way to stay focused and healthy.

Since his breakout year in 2009, Austin has struggled to reach the same heights, as defenses are now more aware of him. He had just over 500 yards receiving last year.

However, he still has loads of natural talent and could have a big rebound season if he can avoid the injury big. 

Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount

It seems like LeGarrette Blount is getting a bad rap these days. Just because the Bucs picked a new starting running back does not mean Blount is not a good runner. 

The Bucs chose Doug Martin in the first round of the draft because they needed a three-down player who could pick up the blitz and contribute in the passing game, which are the two biggest weak spots in Blount's game. 

However, in split-carry duty with Martin, Blount could be a very effective player and give the Bucs the one-two punch they are looking for at the position. 

Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown

The Steelers have built their receiving corps with an emphasis on speed and explosion, and few players fit that category better than Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. 

Wallace has elite speed and is a threat to go the distance on any play, but he has begun to develop into a more complete receiver with every year of experience. 

However, according to the Sporting News, the Steelers' teammates voted Antonio Brown the team MVP at the end of the season, which is quite a testament as to how much his teammates think of him as a player. 

For at least one more year, the Steelers will have a dynamic pair of explosive receivers on both sides. 

Drew Brees and Marques Colston

As I mentioned earlier, I tried to only include special quarterback-receiver combinations, which would certainly include the chemistry between Brees and Colston. 

Colston does not have great speed, but he is incredibly productive because of his ability to separate and win jump balls that are thrown with precision by Drew Brees. 

More so than most quarterbacks, Brees is going to put the ball in a position where only his receiver can catch it, and Colston is able to capitalize on that. After spending so many years together, they have been able to fine-tune their timing and become one of the most prolific quarterback-receiver combinations in the league. 

Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy

For some odd reason, Mike McCarthy is not mentioned in the same breath as Sean Payton and Norv Turner as one of the best offensive minds in the game. 

Since taking over the Packers in 2006, the Packers have been near the front of the back in terms of offensive success. Yes, having Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers on the roster makes calling offenses much easier, but when will McCarthy get credit for developing Rodgers into the player he is today?

And now, soon enough, we will find out just how reliant Matt Flynn was on Mike McCarthy's system. 

Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett

The Cardinals have quietly established one of the best defenses in the game, which is in most part thanks to their front three defensive linemen. 

In particular, their two defensive ends, Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett, have been a huge part of what the Cardinals want to do on defense. 

Dockett got his recognition back in 2008, when the Cardinals went on their Super Bowl run, but Campbell is finally getting the recognition he deserves as the Cardinals claw their way back to relevancy. 

Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas/Mark Ingram

No team has stacked the running back position as thoroughly as the Saints have over the past year. 

In addition to the incumbent starter, Pierre Thomas, they added the ideal "scatback" in Darren Sproles. Sproles turned out to be a rather significant upgrade over Reggie Bush. They also added the Heisman Trophy winner in Mark Ingram in the first round of the 2011 draft.

The combination of Thomas, Ingram and Sproles gives the Saints the depth and versatility needed at the position in today's NFL. 

Justin Smith and Aldon Smith

These players do not play the same position, as Justin is a 3-4 defensive end while Aldon is an outside linebacker. But both are nightmares to deal with on third downs. 

As a rookie, Aldon Smith got himself 14 sacks, despite playing almost exclusively on third downs. Meanwhile, Justin played at a DPOY-level and was virtually unblockable all season long, both as a pass-rusher and as a run-stuffer. 

Justin has been a stud for quite some time now, but the addition of Aldon Smith was enough to put the 49ers' defense near the top of the league. 

Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed

It is hardly a coincidence that the Texans were able to lose Mario Williams to injury and still finish the season near the top of the league in defense. 

Connor Barwin emerged as the sack leader, notching 11.5 last year. Rookie Brooks Reed was then called upon to step up and replace Mario Williams, which is hardly and enviable task, and was surprisingly productive. Reed had 9.5 sacks last year, including 3.5 in the postseason alone. 

Without the production of these two players, the Texans would not have been so content letting Mario Williams leave. 

George Wilson and Jairus Byrd

While all of the attention is on the Bills' defensive line after making big splashes in free agency, the Bills have one of the best safety tandems in the game. 

George Wilson had a resurgent year, particularly in run support. On the other side, Jairus Byrd, although he has not been able to reach the same statistical heights as he did during his rookie year, is still a ball hawk for the Bills on the back end. 

With these two safeties in place, the Bills have a chance to have a Super Bowl-caliber defense this year. 

Shaun Phillips and Jarret Johnson

The Chargers really went after the outside linebacker position this offseason, adding both Jarret Johnson and Melvin Ingram, via free agency and the draft, respectively. 

Johnson, who spent his career working opposite Terrell Suggs, should thrive working opposite Shaun Phillips, who is a very good pass-rusher in his own right. 

It remains to be seen how much Phillips' role changes as the Chargers try to figure out how to incorporate Melvin Ingram into the defense, but the Chargers are finally set at outside linebacker with Johnson in the mix.

Champ Bailey and Tracy Porter

Last year, the Broncos had some serious issues at corner, and Champ Bailey was not to blame. 

To rectify the situation, the Broncos brought in former Saint and Super Bowl hero Tracy Porter to give the Broncos one of the best tandems in the game. 

Adding a veteran like Porter sends a clear signal that the Broncos are willing to surround Peyton Manning with what he needs to win right now, as opposed to developing younger, cheaper players. 

Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith

Staying on the theme of corner tandems, the Ravens are another example of a team that has turned what was perceived as a weakness to perhaps the strongest part of their defense. 

Not only did the Ravens spend a first-round pick on the uber-talented Jimmy Smith a year ago, but Lardarius Webb grew into his own and become one of the best corners in the AFC, notching five interceptions. 

Ryan Williams and Beanie Wells

This one-two punch is admittedly a projection, but there is too much talent in the Cardinals' backfield to ignore.

Beanie Wells is a solid starter, but Ryan Williams, a second-round pick from 2011 that missed his rookie season due to injury, will return. 

To me, Williams is the more complete and talented back and should take over the starting job sooner than later, assuming he fully recovers from his injury. Once that happens, the Cardinals will have the best one-two punch at running back in the division. 

Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd

After adding Brandon Lloyd, the Patriots' offense is almost unstoppable. Just imagine trying to cover Gronkowski, Hernandez, Welker and Lloyd out of base personnel, with Tom Brady throwing the ball. 

With their deep threat finally on the roster in Brandon Lloyd, Wes Welker should see more single coverage, which is a dangerous proposition for opposing defenses. 

Doug Free and Tyron Smith

Looking across the league, it is hard to find a better pair of bookend tackles than Doug Free and Tyron Smith. 

After a stellar rookie season at right tackle, Smith is moving to the left side, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. This move will pay dividends, as Smith is an incredible athlete that is an ideal fit at left tackle. 

With a player like Doug Free, who played well at left tackle, moving to the right side, the Cowboys have players with ideal skill sets protecting both sides of Tony Romo. 

Cam Newton and Steve Smith

While Newton and Smith have only had one year to work together, I chose to include them on this list because of the threat both of them present on any given play. 

Newton is a threat to run or throw on every play, and he will make defenses pay for over-playing either option. Should teams threaten to load the box to stop the run, Newton, as we saw last year, has developed terrific chemistry with Steve Smith, giving the Panthers a true dual-threat offense on passing plays. 

Randy Moss and Michael Crabtree

This is another selection that is based on potential, but according to players at 49ers camp (via ESPN.com's Mike Sando), Randy Moss has been very impressive during his short time as a 49er. 

If Randy Moss can be the old Randy Moss, he will be their deep threat. On the other side, Michael Crabtree will be a perfect fit as a possession-type receiver, and then will eat up all of the open coverage left in Moss' wake. 

If these two players can play up to their potential, the 49ers' offense will be substantially more explosive next season.