Ranking the Top-12 Wide Receiver Duos Entering the 2020 NFL Season

We recently did a countdown of the top ten quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league, and we’ll stay on theme today by covering the best wide receiver duos entering the 2020 NFL season. Surprisingly, very few dominant duos exist in the NFL. Most pairings made the list because one member of the tandem elevated the other. Nevertheless, defenses never want to face off against these wide receiver duos.

12. Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

I’m betting on Jeudy serving as the perfect complement to Sutton in Denver. The Alabama product entered the draft ranked behind CeeDee Lamb as the second-best wide receiver on most draft boards. The Broncos hope Jeudy and Sutton turn into the new version of Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas.

With inconsistent quarterback play last year, Sutton tallied 72 receptions, 1,112 yards, and six touchdowns. If Drew Lock is the answer in Denver, Sutton could see his numbers spike over the next several years.

11. Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions

It might seem like a stretch, but I’m comfortable saying Golladay is part of the next wave of great wide receivers. The former third-round pick produced 1,190 yards and a league-leading 11 receiving touchdowns in 2019 despite not having Matthew Stafford for half of the season. If his quarterback stays healthy this coming season, Golladay could compete for an All-Pro spot.

At 30 years old, Jones isn’t going to post a Pro Bowl season, but he’s a great second option in Detroit’s offense. Jones tallied 779 yards and nine touchdowns in 2019.

10. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles duo both went for over 1,000 yards this past season. Beginning in 2017, Allen overcame his history of injuries and began performing at a Pro Bowl level. In the past three seasons, he’s strung together 303 receptions, 3,788 yards, 18 touchdowns, and three Pro Bowl nods.

On the other hand, Williams is still trying to find his way in the NFL. The Clemson product averaged a league-leading 20.4 yards per reception last season, crossing the 1,000-yard threshold with just 49 receptions.

9. A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd/Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

After making the Pro Bowl seven consecutive times to open his career, Green missed seven games in 2018 and the entire 2019 season. He’s no longer a top-ten wide receiver because we haven’t seen him play in a year and a half. However, there is hope that Joe Burrow can jumpstart the Georgia product’s career again.

Boyd produced 1,000-yard seasons in Green’s absence over the past two seasons. He’s not a reliable No. 1 option, but Boyd fills the ideal No. 2 role. That leaves Higgins, who the Bengals got as a steal with the first pick in the second-round this year. An ideal deep ball target, Higgins could provide some big plays for Cincinnati this season.

8. Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup/CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys flaunt a duo of 1,000-yard receivers. Last season, Cooper made the fourth Pro Bowl of his career and finished the year with 1,189 receiving yards. Cooper performs at a Pro Bowl level, but he’s toward the bottom of the top-ten wide receivers in the NFL. He tends to vanish in big games.

Gallup, a third-round pick in 2018, posted 1,107 yards last season. However, he could lose opportunities as Lamb works his way into the lineup. By far, the best receiver in the 2020 draft class, Lamb joined Dallas as the 17th overall pick.

7. Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs

Hill struggled with injuries this past season, but when he’s healthy, the former fifth-round pick produces All-Pro numbers. In 2018, Hill caught 87 passes for 1,479 yards and 12 touchdowns. As long as the speedster plays with Patrick Mahomes, he’s one of the five most threatening receiving options in the NFL.

Watkins never lived up to his draft pedigree, but the Clemson product can step up when needed. He recorded seven receptions, 114 yards, and a touchdown against Tennessee in Kansas City’s Divisional Round victory.

6. Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns

The duo of Beckham and Landry is one of the most talented in the NFL, but they failed to meet expectations in 2019. Part of the blame falls on Freddie Kitchens’ coaching staff and Baker Mayfield as well, but Beckham and Landry didn’t exactly dominate last season. Landry did post his best season since 2016, making 83 catches for 1,174 yards and six touchdowns.

However, Beckham experienced another disappointing season. The former superstar caught 74 passes for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns. Beckham’s 64.7 receiving yards per game marked the lowest average of his six-year career.

5. Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams

Injuries to Brandin Cooks last season elevated Kupp to a primary option in Sean McVay’s offense. Despite Jared Goff struggling, Kupp posted the best year of his career in 2019. The former third-round pick caught 94 passes for 1,161 yards and ten touchdowns.

Kupp benefits from playing alongside a qualified veteran like Woods. The former Buffalo Bill began producing borderline Pro Bowl numbers in 2018. Over the past two seasons, Woods has 176 receptions, 2,353 yards, and eight touchdowns.

4. Emmanuel Sanders and Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

It’s safe to say that Sanders is over the hill at 33 years old. However, the former Pro Bowler went to the Super Bowl with three different teams during his ten-year career. Now, he enters Year 11 with Drew Brees and the Saints with the goal of returning to the big game one more time.

Thomas is in line to go down as the next great wide receiver. Last season, he earned his second consecutive First-Team All-Pro selection. The former second-round pick also broke Marvin Harrison’s single-season receptions record, producing 149 in 16 games. Did I mention he also recorded 1,725 receiving yards?

3. DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald/Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals

Along with Julio Jones and Michael Thomas, Hopkins stands out as one of the top three wide receivers in the NFL today. The Clemson product earned First-Team All-Pro selections in each of the past three seasons, totaling 315 receptions, 4,115 yards, and 31 touchdowns during that time. He joins a living legend in Fitzgerald and a developing player in Kirk on Kliff Kingsbury’s team. Fitzgerald produced 804 yards last season, while Kirk recorded 709.

2. Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons

While Antonio Brown is out of the game, Jones remains a dominant force. Over the past seven seasons, the Alabama product averaged 102.8 receiving yards per game. Over seven seasons! He might not score a lot of touchdowns, but Jones is bound for Canton someday. Jones earned a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2019 and made the NFL 2010’s All-Decade Team. Ridley is a nice young piece, but the Falcons are still waiting for his breakout season.

1. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Even with Jameis Winston throwing 30 interceptions last season, Tampa Bay’s ultimate duo looked unstoppable. With Tom Brady taking over, Evans and Godwin might experience a dip in yardage production, but the Buccaneers should see a spike in winning. Since entering the NFL in 2014, Evans has never produced less than 1,000 yards in a single season. Over the past two years, he’s averaging 92.4 receiving yards per game. In comparison, Godwin only stepped into the spotlight last season. However, the former third-round pick averaged 95.2 yards per game.