What QB/WR combo has the most (1 Viewer)

[Chase Stuart]

Steve Smith and Jake Delhomme have started 60 regular season games together. Smith, during those 60 games, has an incredible 90.6 yards per game average. This ranks #2 in NFL history**** among QB/WR combos that have started at least 40 games together. Warner and Fitzgerald are #4, at 88.7 YPG. Rice and Montana are #5, at 88.1 YPG, and Moss/Culpepper are the only other duo over 85 YPG.

Who ranks #1 and #3?

****For a small number of players -- Harrison, Wayne, Fitzgerald, Ochocinco and Smith -- I included their 2008 data. For all other WRs, their 2008 data are unfortunately excluded. However, of course, I do not believe that including the '08 numbers for other players would change the answer to this question. But just a preemptive warning.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Marshall/Cutler?

 

[chitlins3]

Here's one from left field - Blake/Pickens?

 

[mcd]

I'd think Young & Rice were in there somewhere.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Drew Bennett and Billy Volek?

 

[Chase Stuart]

Marshall/Cutler?

Not enough games.

Here's one from left field - Blake/Pickens?

69.8 yards per game -- very respectable

I'd think Young & Rice were in there somewhere.

82.0 YPG.

 

[mcd]

Drew Bennett and Billy Volek?

Thats hilarious, I was about to type the same thing. Those 3 weeks sure seemed like an eternity.

 

[mcd]

Possibly Holt & Warner

 

[Chase Stuart]

Possibly Holt & Warner

Holt/Bulger - 84.9Holt/Warner - 81.3

 

[Super King]

Moss/Culpepper?

 

[JKL]

Okay, since I'm doing AFL research, I assume you are including AFL records. I'll try Blanda/Hennigan, or Hadl/Alworth.

 

[mcd]

Last guess, Palmer & Johnson.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Okay, since I'm doing AFL research, I assume you are including AFL records. I'll try Blanda/Hennigan, or Hadl/Alworth.

Blanda/Hennigan, at their peak, were unbelievable (at least statistically -- I'll leave it up to you as to what weight the early '60s AFL records should get). They both declined later in their careers, but still put up a respectable career average of 81.5. FWIW, Namath/Maynard ranks ahead of them at 84.1.Hadl/Alworth is the correct answer. 1) Hadl/Alworth - 90.92) Smith/Delhomme - 90.63) XX/XX - 89.3Smith/Delhomme has really been a thing of beauty. It's a shame they've only started 44 games together the past four seasons. Over this time period, Smith has averaged 94.5 receiving yards per game in four playoff games with Delhomme.

 

[chitlins3]

Scott Mitchell/Herman Moore?

 

[Chase Stuart]

Scott Mitchell/Herman Moore?

:(

 

[FUBAR]

Moss/Culpepper?

this was my initial guess.The truly amazing thing is there are years where the top WR didn't average 90 yards per game. 9 since 1980 including 1996, 2004 and 2006.

 

[Akkum]

Aikman/Irvin ?

 

[Chase Stuart]

Aikman/Irvin ?

80.9.

 

[iSnitch]

Which is yet another reason Steve Smith is very, very high on my draft board this season.

 

[Anonymous Internet User]

Favre/Freeman or Favre/Sharpe?

edit to edit: actually, could have been either Freeman or Sharpe

 

[Akkum]

my last guess...and it is from leftfield...

Brian Griese/Rod Smith

 

[Our Gang]

Hostetler/Brown?

 

[Andy Herron]

I'll go with Marino/Duper in that #3 slot.

Duper or Clayton anyway.

Hey, at least I found an opportunity to post the "Marks" Brothers!

ETA: The "Marks" Brothers were such a great combo for Marino, I can't remember which one of them was the more dominant one.

 

[Our Gang]

I'll go with Marino/Duper in that #3 slot.Duper or Clayton anyway.Hey, at least I found an opportunity to post the "Marks" Brothers!ETA: The "Marks" Brothers were such a great combo for Marino, I can't remember which one of them was the more dominant one.

I was thinking about those guys too, but the played a ton of seasons with Marino. I would say that their average is in the mid to high sixties with clayton edging Duper by a hair. The number 3 will be a qb/wr combo that played 3-4 seasons together.

 

[Our Gang]

Have Warner/Fitz started 40?

 

[Andy Herron]

I'll go with Marino/Duper in that #3 slot.Duper or Clayton anyway.Hey, at least I found an opportunity to post the "Marks" Brothers!ETA: The "Marks" Brothers were such a great combo for Marino, I can't remember which one of them was the more dominant one.

I was thinking about those guys too, but the played a ton of seasons with Marino. I would say that their average is in the mid to high sixties with clayton edging Duper by a hair. The number 3 will be a qb/wr combo that played 3-4 seasons together.

I gotcha.Well then let me turn on the "way back" machine and go with Unitas/Berry.

 

[Andy Herron]

Maybe Moon/Givens?

 

[Andy Herron]

How about Jim Kelly/Andre Reed?

 

[Andy Herron]

Chris Miller/Andre Rison.

 

[Andy Herron]

Mark Brunell/Jimmy Smith.

 

[Andy Herron]

Dan Fouts/Charlie Joiner.

 

[Andy Herron]

Jim Zorn/Steve Largent.

Jim Kelly/James Lofton.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Scott Mitchell/Herman Moore?

:(

In case this wasn't clear earlier, this was the correct answer.

 

[Andy Herron]

Scott Mitchell/Herman Moore?

:(

In case this wasn't clear earlier, this was the correct answer.

Oh... sorry. :(ETA: I was about to post Stabler/Branch.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Favre/Freeman or Favre/Sharpe?edit to edit: actually, could have been either Freeman or Sharpe

79.6 for Favre/Sharpe and 62.2 for Favre/Freeman.

my last guess...and it is from leftfield...Brian Griese/Rod Smith

81.5.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Last guess, Palmer & Johnson.

After 2008, 84.7.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Hostetler/Brown?

78.1.

I'll go with Marino/Duper in that #3 slot.Duper or Clayton anyway.Hey, at least I found an opportunity to post the "Marks" Brothers!ETA: The "Marks" Brothers were such a great combo for Marino, I can't remember which one of them was the more dominant one.

Duper - 67.0Clayton - 63.8

I'll go with Marino/Duper in that #3 slot.Duper or Clayton anyway.Hey, at least I found an opportunity to post the "Marks" Brothers!ETA: The "Marks" Brothers were such a great combo for Marino, I can't remember which one of them was the more dominant one.

I was thinking about those guys too, but the played a ton of seasons with Marino. I would say that their average is in the mid to high sixties with clayton edging Duper by a hair. The number 3 will be a qb/wr combo that played 3-4 seasons together.

I gotcha.Well then let me turn on the "way back" machine and go with Unitas/Berry.

I don't have game log data from before 1960, but I'm positive that Unitas/Berry is not that high. Berry played almost every game of his career with Unitas at QB, and has a career average of 60.2 YPG.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Maybe Moon/Givens?

Moon/Hill - 73.7Moon/Givens - 63.5

How about Jim Kelly/Andre Reed?

67.4.Kelly/Reed had the distinction, before last season, of having started the most games together. Harrison/Manning passed them last year.

Chris Miller/Andre Rison.

Only 35 games, but 72.8.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Mark Brunell/Jimmy Smith.

78.1.

 

[millertyme1]

Drew Bennett and Billy Volek?

LOL stole mine

 

[Chase Stuart]

Dan Fouts/Charlie Joiner.

Fouts/Jefferson - 80.1Fouts/Chandler - 72.8Fouts/Winslow - 65.2Fouts/Joiner - 62.6

Jim Zorn/Steve Largent.Jim Kelly/James Lofton.

Largent/Zorn - 66.5Lofton/Dickey - 81.5Lofton/Kelly - 58.4

ETA: I was about to post Stabler/Branch.

63.4

 

[Andy Herron]

Hostetler/Brown?

78.1.

I'll go with Marino/Duper in that #3 slot.Duper or Clayton anyway.Hey, at least I found an opportunity to post the "Marks" Brothers!ETA: The "Marks" Brothers were such a great combo for Marino, I can't remember which one of them was the more dominant one.

Duper - 67.0Clayton - 63.8

That's amazing when you stop and think about it.During the height of Marino's career and all of the passing yards he accumilated, his two most prolific receivers only registered that high.

 

[Truman]

Where's Manning/Harrison?

 

[Instinctive]

Drew Bennett and Billy Volek?

I was coming here to say that. But I don't think they had 40 games together.Edit to add: Herber to Hutson up there?

 

[Chase Stuart]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=2657

Top four year QB-WR stretches. Smith/Delhomme ranked 3rd.