Which wide receiver tandem is the NFL’s best in 2018?

The NFL is full of great receivers in the league’s golden age of passing, but which tandem is the best in 2018? That’s a hot debate.

One of my favorite things to think about and discuss with my colleagues and my friends is which team has the best duo of receivers in the NFL. I love it so much that I even created an “NBA JAM” type of graphic that listed some of the best duos in the entire NFL and posted it on Twitter to see the opinions of others.

I have so many thoughts and opinions about what makes the best duo. However, that’s a discussion for another time. Today, I want to talk about who is currently the best duo in the 2018 season. Now, depending on the offensive philosophy, the quarterback, the division, your answer may change. But for me,  one group stands above the rest;  it’s Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs of the Minnesota Vikings.

On Sunday Night Football, the duo starred once again as they caught 16 passes on 20 targets for 202 yards. They each scored a touchdown and it was their outstanding play that was able to lead the Vikings over the Packers to essentially end Green Bay’s playoff hopes.

What makes this the best combination in the league is how efficient the two have become. The Vikings aren’t just funneling targets to them to put up stats. Instead, they’ve become two of the most efficient receivers in all of football. On the season, Thielen and Diggs are catching over 72 percent of their targets. 72 percent! Together, they have combined for nearly 2,000 receiving yards on 172 catches.

While I could give you stats all day about why these two are the best combination in the league, what makes this duo so unique is how well they complement each other. Their games mesh so well together, and it has allowed the Vikings’ offense to thrive.

Let’s start with Thielen. On the season, Thielen already has 93 receptions and eight touchdowns, both of which are career highs. In a week or two, he is going to eclipse his career high in receiving yards as well.

Over the last 32 games, Thielen has been putting up numbers that are the equivalent of Antonio Brown’s stats in Pittsburgh. However, Thielen has been putting up those elite numbers with three different quarterbacks (Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum, and Sam Bradford), while Brown has had the luxury of playing with the same quarterback each week.

Despite what you may hear, Thielen is an outstanding athlete who has the size and quickness to win outside or in the slot. One of the things that people have “dismissed” his play in the past was by saying that he’s only a slot receiver. Thielen has put that to bed this season as he has played most of his snaps on the outside. Every week, Thielen is showing why he’s one of the league’s best outside receivers. Take a look at this route and catch in traffic against Green Bay:

Despite being one of the best route-runners in the NFL, there are going to be times when receivers have to make contested catches. Thielen has shown the ability to do just that in every game this season. But aside from the spectacular catches and route running, he is also one of the smartest route runners in today’s NFL. Thielen understands how to get open in zone coverage and how to work his way back to the quarterback to “appear open.”

Take a look at his touchdown reception from Sunday night. Kirk Cousins doesn’t see Thielen right away, but the receiver worked his way back to the quarterback and Cousins eventually found him. On a critical third-down, this was a game-changing play by Thielen.

Thielen is the better receiver of the two receivers right now, but Diggs is close. When you study Diggs’ game, there may not be a quicker receiver in and out of their breaks. On top of that, Diggs also can play outside or in the slot as well. And that’s what makes this duo so unique. Depending on the opponent, the Vikings can line up their receivers all over the field to exploit mismatches.

On Sunday night, the Vikings found a mismatch early in the game that allowed them to beat the Packers. Minnesota lined up Diggs inside in the slot against cornerback Tramon Williams, and that was all they needed to win. Diggs was able to turn around Williams with his quickness all night, and it resulted in some big plays for the Vikings’ offense.

All game, the Vikings were trying to get Diggs in space against Williams as there was a clear athletic mismatch. As you see from the play above, Williams doesn’t have the quickness to stay with him. Due to Diggs’ ability to play in the slot, it exposed Williams even more. That’s where Thielen’s ability to also win on the outside comes into play. If Thielen were just a slot receiver, this offense wouldn’t work and vice versa. Because the two players are so versatile, it allows them to take advantage of mismatches in the secondary such.

Another part of Diggs’ game that doesn’t get enough attention is his body control. He is one of the best receivers in the league at making catches outside the framework of his body. Because of his route-running ability and body control, he is the ideal receiver to target at the end of the game or on critical plays.

Take a look at this play on third down as the Vikings were trying to run the clock. Diggs created instant separation on the slant, but the throw was well behind him. However, Diggs was able to snatch the ball out of the air and gain the first down without any trouble. It was one of the most impressive adjustments to a poorly thrown ball I’ve seen all season.

Time and time again, Diggs makes these type of plays that change or win games. He’s a quarterback’s best friend because he can bail out a quarterback on a poorly thrown ball. Thielen is the better player, but Diggs is the go-to-player when the game is on the line.

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However, it’s their ability to play with one another that makes this combination so unique. There isn’t a rivalry between the two. In fact, it’s just the opposite. They know that the presence of one another leads to favorable matchups and ultimately, points being scored. Together, even with a sub-par offensive line and a middle-of-the-pack quarterback, they can be the best duo in the NFL at receiver.

If the Vikings are going to make a run in December, it’s going to be because of this wide receiver tandem. If Thielen and Diggs can get hot, Minnesota is going to be a tough out for any NFC team. We have seen these two players take over games and covering them in a playoff game is going to be a tough task for any team in the league.