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Top 10 Quarterback and Receiver Combinations

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It seems like every year, there is that one guy who came out of the draft with a quarterback and wide receiver who play on the same team. Whether this was a mere coincidence or part of his plan heading in, it seems like he has a good chance to win each week. Especially if he has the top receiver on that team.

This is a strategy that I don't believe is talked about enough in the fantasy community. There is some risk-reward to it, but if you pick two obvious fantasy studs, then the rewards should be in your favor. Of course, if you had Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson last season, it might not have worked out as well as you expected. But if you had Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton, then you were probably one of the better teams in your league.

Criteria

The criteria used to rank these teammates is not based on talent and projections alone. Yes, that plays a big part of it, and the 2015 point projection totals were taken from the FFtoday website. But the degree of difficulty in drafting both the quarterback and his receiver was also taken into consideration. For example, one duo listed in the honorable mentions category, Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, are projected to score the most combined points of any QB and WR teammates this year with 618 . But based on their average draft positions according to the fantasy football calculator website, they are going back-to-back at 20 and 21, respectively. That means it's nearly impossible to draft both of them on your team, making it an unrealistic strategy heading into your draft.

Honorable Mentions

Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson

Peyton Manning and Emmanuel Sanders

Cam Newton and Kelvin Benjamin

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski

Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham

Sam Bradford and Jordan Matthews

Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffrey

Phillip Rivers and Keenan Allen

Andy Dalton and A.J. Green

Teddy Bridgewater and Charles Johnson/ Mike Wallace

Ryan Tannehill and Jarvis Landry

Derek Carr and Amari Cooper

Jameis Winston and Mike Evans

10) Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb

ADP: 20, 23 Projected Point Total (PPT): 579

Just like Nelson, Cobb is being drafted around the same time as Rodgers. Only three spots separate them, making it difficult to pull off. If you draft Rodgers and another player takes Cobb before it's your turn to pick, you can always use Davante Adams as a backup plan. He is being drafted around the 8th round, and if anything were to happen to one of the main receivers, he is a must start.

9) Drew Brees and Brandon Cooks

ADP: 58, 36 PPT: 475

Many fantasy experts are projecting a decrease in production for Drew Brees after the Saints parted ways with Jimmy Graham. The team is also expected to run the ball more, but lets face it, you can't run the ball the whole game with that defense. And with a lack of offensive weapons, someone is going to have to catch the ball, which means sophomore wide receiver Brandon Cooks could be a reception monster.

8) Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson

ADP: 91, 16 PPT: 520

The disappointing pair of last season could be in for a comeback year. If the 30-year-old Megatron can stay healthy, he is as close to a lock as you can get for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. As Justin Rodgers of Michigan Live puts it, "If the early stages of training camp are any indication, Johnson is locked in. He's been abusing Detroit's cornerbacks and not letting any pass in his two-car-garage catch radius hit the ground."

7) Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.

ADP: 97, 13 PPT: 555

If there were no injury concerns, then this pair could be higher on the list. All Beckham has to do is average close to a touchdown per game like he did last season. But as the second year receiver told NJ.com, "Hamstrings are always going to be on your mind. You can ask anybody who has ever pulled a muscle, it's always going to be something in the back of gourmand, no matter if you try and let it go or not." He is currently participating in on a "pitch count" at Giants camp according to Rotoworld.

6) Tony Romo and Dez Bryant

ADP: 78, 8 PPT: 534

With DeMarco Murray out of the picture, and Joseph Randle stepping into the starter role for the first time, it seems like the Cowboys will become more pass heavy. On top of that, Bryant has been a touchdown machine for the past three seasons, scoring 12, 13, and most recently, 16 touchdowns. Cole Beasley could be a good backup plan in PPR leagues if Bryant is taken before your pick.

5) Matt Ryan and Julio Jones

ADP: 75, 12 PPT: 544

Similiar to the Cowboys, the Falcons running backs are filled with question marks. Kyle Shanahan's offense has always been pass heavy, and this intriguing pair could easily finish with the most fantasy points by the end of the year.

4) Peyton Manning and Demaryius Thomas

ADP: 42, 10 PPT:571

Old man Manning is another elite quarterback who, like Brees, is projected to have a down year by fantasy experts. The Broncos are expected to become more of a running team to preserve the health of Manning after he broke down late last season. However, he is still Peyton Manning, and if he didn't think he could still play, he wouldn't be playing. In fact, he probably has more motivation to prove all of his doubters wrong this season. But he doesn't come without risk, as one hit from a defender could end his career.

3) Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton

ADP: 17, 25 PPT: 582

Projected as the second highest scoring pair, these guys should be in for another high scoring season. With Andre Johnson on the roster, that should take away some of the heat on Hilton, but I also think it will cut into his touchdown total. Last year he had seven TDs with 1,345 receiving yards. They don't come cheap, as Hilton is going eight spots from Luck.

2) Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown

ADP: 54, 6 PPT: 559

Brown is not just trying to be great, he's trying to become the greatest receiver ever. As a sixth round pick, he has certainly made it further than anyone expected him to, but he doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN "He's trying to be the G.O.A.T. and he won't settle for anything less."

1) Andrew Luck and Andre Johnson

ADP: 17, 43 PPT: 573

Johnson is certainly the easier receiver to pair with Luck based on ADP, and he shouldn't cost you that much in production either. At the age of 34, Johnson is projected to play a significant role in the Colts offense, and Luck is going to be the best quarterback he has ever had. You can expect his season ending stats to be around 90 catches, 1,000 yards, and close to 10 touchdowns.

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