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Best receiving tandems of all time
Adam Rank recently identified Roddy White and Julio Jones as the NFL's best current receiving duo. Now check out the pass-catching combos that Rank believes are the best of all time.
![Ellard might be one of the most underrated receivers in NFL history. Truly a great player whose stats get lost in all the gaudy numbers of today. Anderson was a dynamic playmaker who still holds the NFL record for most receiving yards in a game (336 against the Saints in 1989). (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/hyafoajb4mux5cyq7acs.jpg)
Ellard might be one of the most underrated receivers in NFL history. Truly a great player whose stats get lost in all the gaudy numbers of today. Anderson was a dynamic playmaker who still holds the NFL record for most receiving yards in a game (336 against the Saints in 1989). (Associated Press)
![This was one of the most dangerous combinations during the Colts' glory years. Harrison had four consecutive seasons with at least 100 receptions for 1999-2002, including an astonishing 143 catches in 2002. Wayne wasn't so bad, either. (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/fwds3vh58u2ot9rdshha.jpg)
This was one of the most dangerous combinations during the Colts' glory years. Harrison had four consecutive seasons with at least 100 receptions for 1999-2002, including an astonishing 143 catches in 2002. Wayne wasn't so bad, either. (Associated Press)
![Reed was just starting to embark on his incredible career while Lofton was at the end of his Hall of Fame run. Together, though, they made the K-Gun offense flourish in Buffalo. (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/db3mdrkhallzrzhiklzi.jpg)
Reed was just starting to embark on his incredible career while Lofton was at the end of his Hall of Fame run. Together, though, they made the K-Gun offense flourish in Buffalo. (Associated Press)
![Part of the famed "Greatest Show on Turf" this duo was referred to as a "track team" by former "Monday Night Football" analyst Dennis Miller. Combined they had 613 receptions for nearly 10,000 yards and 57 touchdowns in their first four seasons. (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/hqapvposfbz4ci34nyi7.jpg)
Part of the famed "Greatest Show on Turf" this duo was referred to as a "track team" by former "Monday Night Football" analyst Dennis Miller. Combined they had 613 receptions for nearly 10,000 yards and 57 touchdowns in their first four seasons. (Associated Press)
![When you want to talk about the "what might have been" players in the league, John Jefferson might rank the highest. Jefferson was unbelievable in three seasons with the Chargers, but was traded to the Packers after a contract dispute in 1981. Sadly, he was never the same. (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/tg21kpklqvjyqmzaiouv.jpg)
When you want to talk about the "what might have been" players in the league, John Jefferson might rank the highest. Jefferson was unbelievable in three seasons with the Chargers, but was traded to the Packers after a contract dispute in 1981. Sadly, he was never the same. (Associated Press)
![Biletnikoff was a Hall of Fame receiver for the Raiders and an award in his name is given to the best at his position in college. But Branch turned the NFL on its ear, and is one of the most underrated Raiders in my estimation. (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/zi6uawkwv0n7vnvf5jy0.jpg)
Biletnikoff was a Hall of Fame receiver for the Raiders and an award in his name is given to the best at his position in college. But Branch turned the NFL on its ear, and is one of the most underrated Raiders in my estimation. (Associated Press)
![Fears led the league in receptions during his first three seasons in the NFL from 1948-1950. "Crazylegs" Hirsh was the deep threat of the duo and had an amazing 1,495 receiving yards in 1951 that seemed as amazing then as Calvin Johnson's totals do now. (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/tbcj3xnbjmrbt9rbka0g.jpg)
Fears led the league in receptions during his first three seasons in the NFL from 1948-1950. "Crazylegs" Hirsh was the deep threat of the duo and had an amazing 1,495 receiving yards in 1951 that seemed as amazing then as Calvin Johnson's totals do now. (Associated Press)
![The "Marks Brothers" weren't tall in stature (both were measured at 5-foot-9), but they came up big for quarterback Dan Marino. Clayton led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions in 1984 (when Marino threw 49), and again in 1988 when he had 14 scores. (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/tqrsjo2jss0al03nvdzq.jpg)
The "Marks Brothers" weren't tall in stature (both were measured at 5-foot-9), but they came up big for quarterback Dan Marino. Clayton led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions in 1984 (when Marino threw 49), and again in 1988 when he had 14 scores. (Associated Press)
![Sure T.O. didn't blow up to become the T.O. we all remember, but these two still had some pretty good years together. Seriously, if you were playing one season of Madden, you might rank this group as the most dangerous. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/l5hjjwxmyriby4avkixc.jpg)
Sure T.O. didn't blow up to become the T.O. we all remember, but these two still had some pretty good years together. Seriously, if you were playing one season of Madden, you might rank this group as the most dangerous. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
![Scratch that, if you play Madden and want to pick a duo there might not be a more dangerous tandem than these two. Moss in his first few years with Carter was simply brilliant. Like John Jefferson mention earlier, Moss is another guy who makes you wonder about what could have been had he played with Carter for a few more years. (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/oyulayiqmhoou72oa4d8.jpg)
Scratch that, if you play Madden and want to pick a duo there might not be a more dangerous tandem than these two. Moss in his first few years with Carter was simply brilliant. Like John Jefferson mention earlier, Moss is another guy who makes you wonder about what could have been had he played with Carter for a few more years. (Associated Press)
![This duo doesn't get enough credit because their career numbers are slightly skewed due to the era. Plus, the Steelers ran the ball an awful lot. However, you can't watch NFL Films without watching either one of these guys making a big play. (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/s65pdu5njcqfqeqgxeak.jpg)
This duo doesn't get enough credit because their career numbers are slightly skewed due to the era. Plus, the Steelers ran the ball an awful lot. However, you can't watch NFL Films without watching either one of these guys making a big play. (Associated Press)
![Yes, it's probably unfair to have Rice on this list twice (some Raiders fans would argue he should be on here three times). However, Rice was the best receiver of his generation. Taylor might have been one of the most unheralded. But like Swann and Stallworth, he made big plays in big games. See Super Bowl XXIII and his two 90-yard touchdown receptions in one game against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 11, 1989. AKA "One of the worst days of my young life." (Associated Press)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/pqekvkkipldoxhzfukf2.jpg)
Yes, it's probably unfair to have Rice on this list twice (some Raiders fans would argue he should be on here three times). However, Rice was the best receiver of his generation. Taylor might have been one of the most unheralded. But like Swann and Stallworth, he made big plays in big games. See Super Bowl XXIII and his two 90-yard touchdown receptions in one game against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 11, 1989. AKA "One of the worst days of my young life." (Associated Press)