NFL Chemistry Class: 10 QB/WR Tandems That Work Best Together

In today's NFL, quarterbacks are racking up yards and touchdowns at rates previously unseen in the history of the league.

Receiving options are spread out in the form of tight ends, running backs, fullbacks and all sizes of wide receivers.

The goal? Present matchup problems for the defense.

However, every quarterback has a go-to guy that is targeted at crunch time. This target has a significant rapport with the signal-caller that often beats any defensive approach, regardless of the matchup.

Did your favorite quarterback/wide receiver combo make the cut?

Let's have a look.

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

How about starting with a tandem that will be prevalent for years to come?

This combo has officially burst onto the scene in 2011, helping to put "Megatron" in the conversation for Most Valuable Player.

Oh, and the best receiver on the planet.

Matthew Stafford has completed 36 passes to Johnson, resulting in 564 yards and nine touchdowns. That is good for fifth in the league in receiving yards and first in scores for the explosive wideout.

By the way, Sunday's game against the 49ers was the first contest of 2011 in which Stafford did not complete a touchdown pass to Johnson.

Provided this exciting duo remains healthy, look for the pair of Detroit Lions to roam the record books over the next decade.



 

Tom Brady and Wes Welker, New England Patriots

While the Brady/Welker duo may not always reach paydirt, this consistent combo racks up the yardage and the completions.

Its not flashy.

Heck, the performances lull you to sleep until you realize Welker has 10 catches and 100 yards at the end of the day.

It has a similar effect on defenses.

Welker caught at least 100 passes for three consecutive years from 2007-2009. He currently leads the NFL in receptions, yards and targets in 2011.

Brady is on pace to throw for over 5,000 yards for the first time in his career and only the third time in NFL history.

Expect a significant portion of that to come in the form of his favorite target, Wes Welker.

Cam Newton and Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers

One is an aging NFL star whom most analysts and fans alike assumed had seen his best days in the league.

The other is a rookie making his NFL debut with concerns about his mechanics and decisions in the pocket.

I guess opposites do attract. 

Quarterback Cam Newton has revitalized the career of wide receiver Steve Smith in 2011. Smith has not reached 1,000 yards receiving since 2008.

This year, Smith is on pace to easily pass 1,000, and he is doing it on big passing plays from his emerging star quarterback. 

Smith is averaging 21.1 yards per catch, good for second in the NFL. That would also be a career best.

Newton may not fully understand the influence his presence has on the offense in Carolina. Looking at the numbers of this unlikely tandem, Steve Smith does. 

Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers may never complete 100 passes to Greg Jennings in a single season.

One, because there are so many weapons on the Packers offense. Two, because he doesn't need to.

Despite only maxing out at 80 receptions in 2008, Jennings has gone over 1,000 yards in every season with Rodgers behind the helm.

Meanwhile, Rodgers has thrown for at least 3,900 yards in each of his three full NFL seasons behind center.

In seven playoff games, Jennings has five touchdowns to go with 518 yards, making him the guy Rodgers targets when the chips are down.

While you will not find Jennings atop any statistical category among receivers presently, expect this consistent duo to be near the top of the list come Week 16 of the NFL season.

 

Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Wallace is the ideal complement to the style of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

"Big Ben" is adept at surviving in the pocket, keeping the play alive until a receiver gets open.

Wallace is skilled as a deep-threat receiver, running routes that take some time to develop downfield.

Unsurprisingly, the duo has hooked up for 2,625 yards over the 38 games that Wallace has been in the NFL.

With only 60 catches in 2010, Wallace still managed over 1,000 yards due to an impressive 21 yards-per-reception average.

Wallace is unable to be covered for extended periods of time. As long as Roethlisberger can stay upright with a suspect offensive line, the electric receiver will be open on big plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick loves to throw the deep ball.

DeSean Jackson loves to run the deep routes.

Perfect match for this deep-threat duo.

With Vick largely at the helm in 2010, Jackson averaged a ridiculous 22.5 yards per catch . This included an 88-yard touchdown hookup from Vick on Monday Night Football against the Washington Redskins on the first play from scrimmage.

The scary thing?

Both are capable of hurting the defense with their feet. Vick is the best rushing quarterback in NFL history while DeSean Jackson is capable of taking a punt return the distance at any moment.

Just ask the 2010 New York Giants.

The deep pass from Vick to Jackson may be the most exciting play in football. Hopefully, there is more to come for these two game-breakers.  

Matt Ryan and Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan has gotten away from completing passes to Roddy White in 2011.

Maybe that is why the Falcons are a mediocre 3-3.

Since Ryan's 2008 rookie season, White has averaged 1,308 yards receiving per year. White's yards over that span account for 34 percent of Ryan's total passing yards.

This season, however, White only has 34 catches for 373 yards. The arrival of Julio Jones has taken many targets from the go-to guy in Atlanta.

That being said, if the Falcons are expecting to contend for the playoffs, Ryan and White had better resurrect the connection that was so successful.

Soon. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick and Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills

Something about this pair just fits.

In Fitzpatrick and Johnson, you have two underrated players playing on a Buffalo Bills team that lacks in attention week in and week out.

Fitzpatrick is a quiet, Ivy League product who quietly goes about his business and is putting up good numbers.

Johnson is an outspoken, flashy wide receiver who brings much-needed publicity to the Bills.

Last year, Fitzpatrick found Johnson to the tune of 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns. This season, Johnson has 382 yards receiving with four touchdowns.

This is a relatively new pairing in the realm of quarterback/wide receiver tandems. For the Bills to stay relevant in the AFC East, this duo will have to keep up the impressive connection displayed over the last two seasons. 

Curtis Painter and Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts

Since taking over for the injured Kerry Collins, quarterback Curtis Painter has seemingly always looked the way of wide receiver Pierre Garcon.

What used to be a dynamic duo in Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne has turned into a refreshingly new breakout pair in Painter and Garcon.

In three-and-a-half games of action with Painter, Garcon has averaged over 100 yards receiving per game.

The breakout performance came against Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football. In that game, Garcon caught only two passes, but for 146 yards including an 87-yard touchdown grab.

It is very early for this pair. It will be interesting to see if this duo can continue to surprise for the rest of 2011.

Hey, Colts fans need something, right? 

Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Now, for the first pair of rookies.

The Cincinnati Bengals and their fans finally have something to be excited about. The future potential of this tandem is limitless.

Most importantly, Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have already developed chemistry in just six regular season games together.

Green ranks 11th in the NFL in receiving yards with 453. That is good for 35 percent of Dalton's passing yards through six games.

The pair has also tag-teamed for four touchdowns.

While still young and inexperienced, this class of 2011 combo has the makings of a long-term answer in the passing game for the Bengals.

And it could not have come sooner for this hapless franchise.