As I spent the last couple weeks enjoying the pure jubilation of the Cowboys acquiring WR George Pickens to pair with CeeDee Lamb, I began thinking about their place among WR combos in the NFL, and which WR combos truly were the best in the league. Ranking players in the NFL can be tougher to tackle than Ashton Jeanty, given how much personal preference and a variety of other factors play into it. That’s what makes it fun though! So I figured I’d take a stab at listing my 5 best receiver tandems for the NFLs 2025 season:
5-The Jaguars WR1: Brian Thomas Jr. WR2: Travis Hunter
This is probably my most controversial inclusion. How could I put the Jaguars here over a team like the Eagles, who do not make the list at all? It starts with what Brian Thomas Jr. did last season, solidifying himself as an electric playmaker with elite speed as a rookie, who will only continue to improve in his sophomore year. And it ends with the Jaguars trading up to select Travis Hunter, the two way NFL star who’s pure athleticism, endurance, and fluidity make him a generational talent. Pairing these two men together creates an immediate problem for every opposing defense. The only reason the Jaguars are at number five and not higher is because there is still so much their receivers need to prove. But make no mistake, they certainly have the talent to do it. And I would not be shocked if the Jaguars were higher on this list come the same time next season.
4-The Texans WR1: Nico Collins WR2: Jayden Higgins
Nico Collins has spent his time in the NFL showing people he is an absolute stud. With how young he is, it stands to reason he will only continue to improve, and it may not be long before he ends up in the conversation for best receiver in the entire NFL. Jayden Higgins may only be a rookie, but his special combination of size and speed promises to make him a threat in the NFL immediately, especially when paired up against most teams second best corner. It is hard to project rookie success in the NFL and it is certainly a risk to rank the Texans this high knowing full well there’s a real chance Higgins might fall on his face. But putting someone with his physical talent opposite a receiver like Collins and with a QB like CJ Stroud, its not hard to see why the Texans might boast one of the top WR tandems in the entire NFL this coming season.
3-The Vikings – WR1: Justin Jefferson WR2: Jordan Addison
The top three teams on this list all have a truly elite WR. I believe these three WRs are in a class all alone when compared to other receivers in the league, meaning these three teams are in a class all alone when it comes to comparing their WR tandems. Since it is difficult to differentiate based off the top receiver for these top three teams, their rankings will largely reflect how I feel about their number two receivers compared to each other. That puts the Vikings at number three on the list. While I love Jordan Addison and know he showed real development last year, he is still the least proven of the second WRs in these three tandems. That is not to say Addison is bad by any stretch-in fact, I believe most teams would love to have him as their WR2. Compared to the other WR2s above him on this list, though, he still has some things to prove. If he does take that next step though…possible best receiver in football Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison might become the most electric duo since Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens.
2-The Cowboys WR1: CeeDee Lamb WR2: George Pickens
The Pickens went from slim to good overnight for the Cowboys WR room as they added the former Steelers playmaker to their team. While Pickens has off the field issues that have drawn lots of attention, his on the field ability is undeniable. Even with a fluid QB situation, Pickens managed to play at a high level in Pittsburgh, and possesses the physical talent to play even better. Whether or not he will take that next step remains to be seen, but pairing him with best-receiver-in-the-league candidate CeeDee Lamb gives the Cowboys an exciting duo of playmakers who will hopefully produce lots of highlights this season. Pickens has shown more than Addison but less than the WR2 in the top tandem, landing the Cowboys at number two on this list.
1-The Bengals WR1: Ja’Marr Chase WR2: Tee Higgins
I told you these top three teams each have a receiver who can legitimately claim to be the best in the league. For the Bengals that receiver is Jamarr Chase. And their number two receiver, Tee Higgins, is more established than either George Pickens or Jordan Addison. While I think highly of both Pickens and Addison, the proven production of Higgins is enough to give the Bengals the edge over the other two teams, making Chase and Higgins the number one WR tandem on my list. With a hopefully healthy Joe Burrow and an even slightly improved defense, it is hard to see how this WR tandem doesn’t end up in the AFC Championship game.
