The San Francisco 49er’s Steve Young (8) to Jerry Rice (80) in the 1990s was one of the best QB/WR combos ever to play in the NFL.
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The bond between a quarterback and their wide receiver is the lifeblood of any successful football team. It’s a partnership that can light up the scoreboard week after week. Their success being born from a deep trust and an almost telepathic understanding of each other’s play.
Now, let’s project forward into the 2024 season. We’re examining several standout pairings poised to rule the fantasy charts. I’ll break down why expectations are sky-high for these dynamic duos and how their rapport on the field can translate into fantasy gold. But before we start, it’s important to remember that this list is based upon possible fantasy points, and not the actual skill of the individual players. With that being said, here are my top 10 tandems.
10) Baker Mayfield & Mike Evans-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It looks like Baker Mayfield may have found himself a home in Tampa, bringing life back into not only his own career, but Mike Evans’ as well. These two made quite a splash in fantasy last year, boosting Evans up to the 4th ranked WR in total fantasy points. Mayfield went from a back up, to the 10th ranked QB in total fantasy points.
9) Lamar Jackson & Mark Andrews-Baltimore Ravens
While Lamar Jackson is an absolute fantasy stand out, stacking up fantasy points both passing and running with the football, Baltimore has never really given him that stud #1 WR to work with. Mark Andrews is technically a tight end, but has been their top receiver over the past few years. He ranks high every year among TEs, but that’s only middle of the pack when it comes to fantasy points among WRs.
8) Kirk Cousins & Justin Jefferson-Minnesota Vikings
These two at #8 is making the assumption that Kirk Cousins will be a Viking come September, as trade rumors loom about. Both Cousins and Justin Jefferson dealt with injury in 2023, Cousins ending his season after week 8. Before 2023, Cousins had thrown for 4,000+ yards every year since 2015, except in 2019, averaging right around 30 TDs in those years.
Jefferson was the number 1 ranked WR in total fantasy points in 2022. He was able to haul in 128 receptions for 1,809 yards and 8 TDs, and is certainly capable of doing it again in 2024. Cousins is not the dual threat that Jackson, and some other QBs higher on the list are, which keeps him from being an elite fantasy QB, and ranking the pair higher on this list.
7) Jared Goff & Amon-Ra St. Brown-Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff embracing his WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.
I make no secret about the fact that I absolutely love what Detroit is doing on offense right now. I think they have the most explosive, and entertaining to watch, offense in the NFL. Amon-Ra St. Brown was a top 3 fantasy WR in 2023, bringing in 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 10 TDs. St. Brown’s numbers have been on the rise since he came into the league in 2021, and I don’t see any reason why that trend would stop.
Jared Goff found himself ranked 7th among QBs, throwing for 4,575 yards, second highest in the NFL, and 30 TDs. Like Cousins, Goff stays in the pocket, and doesn’t pick up extra fantasy points running the ball. This is why I have this pair ranked 7th, and not higher.
6) Tua Tagovailoa & Tyreek Hill-Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill is a dominant WR, arguably the best in the NFL. Throughout a large portion of the 2023 season, Hill was considered a front runner for NFL MVP, which would make him the first non-quarterback to win the award since 2012. A nagging injury towards the end of the season slowed Hill down a little, but he still finished 2nd in total fantasy points.
Tua Tagovailoa ranked 1st in NFL in passing yards for 2023, but his lack of TDs keeps him from being higher on the list in fantasy points. So like some of the previous duos, the lack of elite fantasy points from the QB, keeps the pair from being higher on this list.
5) C.J. Stroud & Nico Collins-Houston Texans
2023 was a break out season for Nico Collins. Despite missing 2 game to injury, He still caught 80 passes for 1,297 yards and 8 TDs, which is more than his previous 2 years combined. It didn’t hurt that rookie sensation C.J. Stroud was drafted along with fellow WR Tank Dell, keeping defenses for zeroing in on just Collins. Stroud passed for 4,108 yards and 23 TDs in his rookie year, and I’m putting my money on those numbers only getting better in 2024. Like Detroit, Houston has started something special within their offense, and I believe both Stroud and Collins will be around the top 5 among their positions in fantasy points.
4) Brock Purdy & Deebo Samuel
I find Brock Purdy’s story remarkable. He gets drafted dead last in the 2022 NFL draft, to the San Francisco 49ers. He then finds himself 3rd on the depth chart, and only gets a chance to play at all in 2022 because the 2 quarterbacks ahead of him get injured. He finishes the 2022 season as a starter, and takes the 9ers all the way to the NFC Championship, where Purdy gets injured and subsequently they lose. He spends all off-season rehabbing his injured elbow, not being able to spend any of that time working with his receivers. He’s deemed healthy enough to play just prior to the beginning of the 2023 season. In only his 2nd season as a pro, he takes the 9ers all the way to the Super Bowl, where they lose on a last second TD, in OT, by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
I constantly hear people continue to doubt Purdy, which he feeds off of, to stay motivated. They say Purdy is just a product of the talent around him, which would include Deebo Samuel. Samuel was the focal point of the offense before RB Christian McCaffrey arrived, but Deebo still eats, with his 1,117 total yards and 12 TDs, having missed 2 games, in 2023. I say, look out for this duo in 2024!
3) Jalen Hurts & A.J. Brown
Sure the Eagles had a colossal melt down at the end of the 2023 season, losing 6 of their last 7 games, and getting blown out in the first round of the playoffs. But again, we’re talking fantasy points here. Not necessarily winning football games. Hurts will continue to be one of the top fantasy QBs, largely due in part to his running, and rushing TDs. Brown has had back to back 1,400+ yards receiving, the past 2 seasons, after joining the Eagles. I predict he will continue to put up those kind of receiving yards yet again, and finish in the top 10 total fantasy points among WRs, in 2024.
2) Josh Allen & Stefon Diggs
I think the Bill’s mafia would consider 2023 to be yet another disappointing season ending, losing to the eventual Super Bowl winning KC Chiefs, in the divisional round of the playoffs. Even though expectations from Bills fans of winning in the playoffs are not met, Josh Allen continues to produce big fantasy numbers, year in and year out, during the regular season. He was ranked #1 in total fantasy points in 2020, 2021 & 2023, and second in 2022. Good chance he repeats these kind of numbers in 2024.
Diggs had a little bit of a down year in 2023, compared to his previous 3 years in Buffalo. I’m sure there are plenty of receivers who wish they could say 107 receptions for 1,183 yards and 8 TDs was a down year, though. I think Buffalo knows that they have to make sure Diggs gets his touches for the team to be successful. So I see both of these guys having huge fantasy numbers in 2024.
1 Dax Prescott & CeeDee Lamb-Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb sharing a fist bump.
In Fantasy, it doesn’t matter what happens in the NFL playoffs. It matters what kind of stats players are going to rack up from week to week in the regular season, and I’m predicting this duo does that better than any other duo in the league.
In 2023, Prescott was being talked about around the league in MVP conversations. He ranked 3rd in total yards passed, and his 36 passing TDs were 1st in the NFL, ranking him 3rd in total fantasy points. With the weapons Prescott has at his disposal, I don’t see any reason, other than injury, why Dak won’t match those numbers in 2024, largely in part to his seemingly uncover-able WR CeeDee Lamb.
Lamb’s 135 receptions, for 1,749 yards and 12 TDs put him atop of the WRs in total fantasy points in 2023. Lamb’s numbers improved every year since his 2020 rookie season, in receptions, yards and TDs, and I expect him to at least match his numbers from 2023, in 2024.
I hope you have enjoyed this article! As always, I’d love to hear your opinion as to why you agree or disagree with my list. Feel Free to drop a message below.
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