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The NFL's best QB-WR duo: Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp are dominating 2021, but Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase are here to stay

Cincinnati Bengals rookie receiver Ja'Marr Chase runs for a third-quarter touchdown against the Ravens in Baltimore. Chaseravens

Football fans don't need to dive too far into the history books to recognize the importance of a dominant quarterback-receiver partnership.

Offensive duos such as Marino-Clayton, Young-Rice, Aikman-Irvin, Manning-Harrison and Rodgers-Nelson have defined and re-defined what was once possible on offense, leaving a lasting legacy of collaboration between two of the game's most important positions. 

Every aspiring Peyton Manning wants his Marvin Harrison; every aspiring Jordy Nelson wants to find his Aaron Rodgers. Just ask Allen Robinson II about that.

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That legacy continues in 2021, as wide receivers such as Cooper Kupp, Ja’Marr Chase and Davante Adams all rank inside the top 10 in PFF receiving grade and total expected points added (EPA) through the first eight weeks of the season. 

While Aaron Rodgers and Adams have developed their chemistry throughout the past couple of seasons, what’s most impressive is that Matthew Stafford and Kupp have done it in their very first eight games together. Joe Burrow and Chase, meanwhile, have quickly translated their college success to the NFL and are putting up record-setting numbers even though they have played just 26 career games between them.

In past seasons, few would have even questioned Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill‘s inclusion in this top-10. However, they are nowhere to be found this season after the team's sputtering 4-4 start.

Duo of the Past: Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill

Mahomes and Hill can still get back to their form from 2018 to 2020, but they currently lack explosive plays, which shows up in their EPA per target per season. 

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