Top 10 NFL Triplets 2021

 Top 10 NFL Triplets 2021

    In the NFL triplets are the Quarterback, Runningback, and Wide Reciever trio. Some of the most infamous trios of all time are Aikman, Emmit Smith, and Michael Irvin, and Big Ben, Le'Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown. With some big moves in the NFL this offseason, I will be ranking the best triplets going into the '21-'22 season.

*Disclaimer- This list is based on talent at the QB, RB, and WR positions only. Some people may consider TEs or two wide receivers and a Quarterback as a triplet but this is not what I based the rankings off of.*

Honorable Mentions

12. New Orleans Saints: Jameis Winston- Alvin Kamara- Michael Thomas

    The Saints are in a weird situation compared to the rest of the teams that made this list. They have a top 3 talent at running back in Kamara, and a stud wideout in Michael Thomas. Although in 2020 Thomas was injured a lot and had a down year for his standards. As for the QB, we are not 100% sure who it will be, it could be Taysom Hill but for the sake of the list, I went with Winston because I believe that is who they will end up with Week 1. The reason they didn't get into the top 10 is because of the Quarterback situation, Jameis is always a question and you can never be sure which version of him you will get on a given Sunday. That and the fact that Michael Thomas is coming off a tough year made me hesitant to put them higher than this.

11. Los Angeles Rams: Matt Stafford- Cam Akers- Robert Woods

    Stafford being traded to the Rams was arguably the biggest move on the offseason and will benefit Los Angeles immensely. I think Matt Stafford in Sean McVay's system will work beautifully and perhaps even result in an MVP for Matt Stafford. In addition to that Cam Akers is destined for a breakout season with the offensive line healthy again and being given a bigger opportunity after showing out last year. The reason the Rams fall short of the top 10 is because of the ifs, I truly believe that Stafford, Akers, and Woods can be a top 5 trio in 2021 but until we actually see them on the field together I can't put them ahead of the groups that I have seen already perform.

TOP 10

10. Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray- Chase Edmonds- DeAndre Hopkins 

    Kyler and D-Hop is a combination that seems to never fail. Last year those two connected for 6 touchdowns and I see them scoring even more in '21. If this list was just QB and WR combos this duo would be right behind Mahomes-Hill, and Brady-Evans. But since we are putting running backs into this equation, Arizona is lower on this list. Chase Edmonds had just 1 rushing TD in 2020. Although he has had games where he has scored multiple times, I assume he and James Conner will share carries and I'm not sold that he can be a number 1 running back.

9. Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson- Chris Carson- DK Metcalf

    Wilson and Carson have been a QB-RB dyad since 2017. Adding Metcalf in 2019 added another quite literally LARGE asset to Seattle's offense. Metcalf has been improving every game and I assume he will continue this pattern into the 2021-22 season. Just like the Seahawks themselves, this trio seems to always be very good in the beginning and fall off towards the end. They won't be a top 3 or even top 5 group but they will be very good and that's enough for the number 9 spot on this list.

8. Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins- Dalvin Cook- Justin Jefferson

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    Justin Jefferson had a breakout rookie year and was 2nd for offensive rookie of the year behind someone who we will talk about shortly. Dalvin Cook looked like a possible MVP candidate early in the year and continued to dominate the league rushing. And Kirk Cousins was actually pretty solid. Yet Cousins is the reason this team is this low. Cook and Jefferson are continuing to get better and better but Cousins is always a concern. If he plays like he did last year this team could maybe sneak into the top 5 but I'm not very confident in him. I see this as a down year for Cousins and I think that the Vikings may even end up with a QB change when it's all said and done. But for now, Kirk is still there and has played well so they stay at 8.

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert- Austin Ekeler- Keenan Allen

    For some, this may come as a shock but before you call this a hot take, hear me out. Herbert had an unbelievable rookie season winning ROTY honors. I foresee him solidifying himself as a top 10 QB in the league and he is definitely someone that is on my MVP watch. Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen have both been underrated since their careers began. They have both quietly put up big numbers for years in San Diego/Los Angeles with little to no credit. If Herbert continues to develop, this offense could be really dangerous. I feel this team's offense could look very similar to that of a division foe that is in the 6th spot. 

6. Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes- Clyde Edwards-Helaire- Tyreek Hill

    Putting aside their embarrassing Super Bowl LV loss, nobody has been able to stop the Mahomes to Tyreek Hill connection. With Mahomes' arm strength and Hill's speed, it is almost impossible to prevent them from having a big play or two every game. CEH had an awesome start to his rookie season similar to the way Kareem Hunt started his career with Kansas City. The Chiefs signing Le'Veon Bell a month into the season caused Edwards-Helaire to lose valuable carries and fall off a bit. Though they have signed Jerick McKinnon, I still believe Clyde has the keys and he will be the clear #1 running back. If he plays like he did in September and October of 2020, this offense will be as menacing as ever.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tom Brady- Ronald Jones- Mike Evans

    How could I leave the Super Bowl Champs out of the top 5? Realistically this trio is very talented but I'm not sure they are a top 5 group when it comes to strictly talent. Yet winning a Championship earns them a higher spot. Brady and Evans have a great connection and it showed with 13 touchdowns last season. But that isn't the issue, the reason I am skeptical of them is the running back. When you look at the backs that are on this list I would probably take all of them aside from Chase Edmonds over Ronald Jones. He is a talented halfback but not as good as the other truly elite trios RBs. This is a solid three but not exactly the crème de la crème.

4. Tennessee Titans: Ryan Tannehill- Derrick Henry- Julio Jones 

    Since joining the Titans, Ryan Tannehill has been a completely different player. He has improved a lot and has shown he can be a top 10 QB at times. Some still have their doubts but I think that with a surrounding cast like his he will be elite. Derrick Henry was almost the first RB since AP in 2012 to win MVP and is probably the best at his position right now. If the Titans just had AJ Brown paired with King Henry like they did last they would still be top 10. But let's not forget they now have Julio Jones! That means that Tennessee has a top 2-3 player at the RB and WR positions. This offense is legitimately terrifying and will be an issue for opposing defenses.

3. Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield- Nick Chubb- Odell Beckham Jr. 

Credit: Ron Schwane/Associated Press

    He's back. After tearing his ACL last year Odell looks to be ready to ball out next season. Some people believe that Baker is better without Odell Beckham and that he tries to force-feed the star wideout when he's on the field. I feel that Baker is maturing and he won't feel the pressure to throw to him all the time in 2021. With that being said the Browns aren't even a pass-first team. Nick Chubb is emerging into a truly elite running back and one of the league's most talented. We all know what Odell can do when he's feeling himself and we have watched Chubb completely take over games the past few seasons, these two with a maturing Baker could mean...Super Bowl?

*sidenote: the backups on this team (Kareem Hunt and Jarvis Landry) would be a top 10 group by themselves*

2. Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott- Ezekiel Elliot- Amari Cooper

    As a Giants fan, this one is hard to talk about. Before his injury, Dak Prescott looked like a true MVP and I could see him being that good again if he can stay healthy this year. Dak has such a great bond with Amari Cooper and since becoming a Cowboy he has only gotten better and better. Not to mention, the relationship that the QB has with his running back. Although Zeke hasn't been himself the past year or so I think he will bounce back and be the player he was a few years ago. This team will finally be the big three that Jerry Jones wanted when he brought them all together. The reason this team is higher than the Browns and Titans is Dak. Although Cleveland and Tennessee's weapons are better, Dak is head and shoulders above Tannehill and Mayfield when healthy and that boosted them up to 2.

1. Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers- Aaron Jones- Davante Adams 

    As I said earlier, the QB is the most important piece to the puzzle and it doesn't get better than the MVP. With that being said the only way that this trio can be triplets is if all of them are there. And as of right now Aaron Rodgers is MIA. But I'm not here to discuss Rodgers VS the Packers, I am just ranking talent, and Green Bay has the best. The Rodgers-Adams connection resulted in an outrageous 18 TDs last year. And when you have the best QB and WR on the same team it almost doesn't matter who the running back is. But Aaron Jones isn't a slouch either. Jones had 11 total touchdowns of his own this past season and is a top-tier back. There seems to be no way to stop this high-powered offense when they are all together, so hopefully, they can stay that way.

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