In today's NFL, it's never been more important to field a competent offense. Furthermore, offenses aren't necessarily built through free agency anymore, as drafting and developing continue to be paramount.
While defenses have figured out how to stop the deep pass and have gotten offenses to prioritize the run game more, any offense still needs to be explosive through the air to sustain success in this league. We have, though, seen a bit of a resurgence at the running back position.
Point being, a good NFL offense should be able to harm opponents on the ground and through the air, and if that does not happen, struggles ensue. Let's get underway with another fresh NFL power rankings, this time, taking a look at the top offensive duos in the league. The criteria we are using here is that each duo needs to have a quarterback, but the other player is able to be a running back, tight end, or wide receiver.
NFL Power Rankings, 2026: Ranking the best offensive duos in the league
Honorable Mention: Kyler Murray and Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
It would feel wrong of me not to put this duo in this list somehow. Kyler Murray signed with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, and I really do not think he signed to be the No. 2 quarterback. This could be great news for Justin Jefferson, one of the best players in the NFL and someone who is legitimately on a Hall of Fame pace.
Jefferson could actually hit the 10,000-yard mark in 2026, depending on how much Murray targets him. With Murray, he has been a productive quarterback and does have a dual-threat ability that should keep defenses honest.
10. Patrick Mahomes and Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs
Signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, Kenneth Walker III joins Patrick Mahomes as a potentially new, exciting duo. It's not 100 percent clear at the moment if Mahomes is going to be ready to roll for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Season, but he's obviously going to start as soon as he's fully cleared.
While Mahomes hasn't been quite as efficient statistically the past few seasons, this is still a future Hall of Famer we're talking about. As for Walker, he's not a bell-cow running back, but he does break a ton of tackles and is a 1,000-yard player, so he's still a good player and did fill a huge position of need for the Chiefs.
9. Bo Nix and Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
Had Bo Nix not broken his ankle in the Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos likely make the Super Bowl. It still seems like there are people out there who do not believe Nix is that good, but the success of the Broncos says otherwise.
Nix turned into the most clutch quarterback in the NFL, and he was able to do it despite having a below-average group of playmakers. With a dynamic weapon in Jaylen Waddle added to the mix, the already efficient Nix should see his numbers skyrocket in 2026.
This is a legitimate duo, as Waddle brings three 1,000-yard seasons to the Broncos. He's one of the fastest players in the NFL and should be able to take advantage of his matchups.
8. Drake Maye and AJ Brown, New England Patriots
Another new duo in the AFC, Drake Maye and AJ Brown come in at No. 8 in our power rankings. Maye finished second in the MVP voting in 2025, and while the New England Patriots did have an insanely easy schedule, what Maye did should not be swept under the rug.
Brown comes over after four-straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. While he wasn't insanely productive last year, Brown has been the most physically dominant receiver in the NFL for quite some time.
Maye and Brown are going to form an immediate connection. Both are, arguably, top-5 at what they do.
7. Dak Prescott and George Pickens (or CeeDee Lamb) , Dallas Cowboys
You could pick whichever receiver you want for this duo, and it would still rank this high. George Pickens did have a stronger season for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, but CeeDee Lamb has been Dak Prescott's favorite target for years now. Not only is Prescott an excellent passer from the pocket, but both Pickens and Lamb are insanely athletic receivers who are both No. 1-caliber.
We saw a glimpse of just how good the Cowboys offense could be when the two receivers were on the field in 2025. Prescott also deserves more credit here - he's been a high-end passer his entire career and is a wizard pre-snap.
6. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Over the last four years, Derrick Henry has amassed 6,221 rushing yards and 58 total touchdowns. For many running backs that come through the NFL, those are career-long numbers. We're to the point with Henry where the all-time rushing record is in view.
Despite being on the wrong side of 30, he continues to be among the most efficient running backs in the NFL, and he might be the best pure runner of this generation. Lamar Jackson, on the other hand, just so happens to be the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL history.
While Jackson was banged-up in 2025, both he and Henry are top-3 at what they do when they're both playing at their peaks. The Ravens did miss the playoffs in 2025, but some better injury luck and a new coaching staff could put this team in the right direction.
5. Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs (or Amon-Ra St. Brown), Detroit Lions
Another 'either/or' duo, the Detroit Lions come in at No. 5 in our power rankings, as Jared Goff can be paired up wiith either Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jahmyr Gibbs, and be one of the best offensive duos in the NFL. While Goff is not a dual-threat player, he's been among the best pure pocket passers we have seen in quite some time.
He's thrown no fewer than 29 touchdown passes across the past four season. Both St. Brown and Gibbs are top-5 at what they do, but Gibbs being a running back could give him the edge here, as he's a threat on the ground and as a receiver.
St. Brown, though, continues to be among the most productive receivers in the NFL.
4. Josh Allen and James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen and James Cook are No. 4 in our power rankings. Allen is one of the best dual-threat passers in NFL history, and it seems like James Cook gets better each year. Cook led the NFL in rushing touchdowns last year and then led the league in rushing yards this year.
Cook finished with 1,912 scrimmage yards in 2025, and Allen's ability as a prolific passer and as a runner has made him an elite threat and legitimate weapon for years now. It's hard to find a better duo than this, but we have a few ranked ahead of them.
3. Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
It really is a shame that Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase have not been into the playoffs since 2022. As a rookie and second-year players in 2021, Chase and Burrow helped the Cincinnati Bengals to an improbable Super Bowl run.
Both could end up in the Hall of Fame one day, as Chase has five Pro Bowls, two All-Pros, and 6,837 yards in five seasons, and Burrow is a three-time Pro Bowler and averages 35 touchdown passes per 17-game season. The Bengals have a 5-2 playoff record in the Burrow era, so all this team needs to do is simply get into the postseason, and they'll likely make a run.
Chase's ability to do literally everything at the position has made him a top-3 player for his entire career, and the same can be said for Burrow.
2. Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
The Super Bowl-winning duo comes in at No. 2 in our power rankings. While Sam Darnold isn't necessarily a high-end quarterback, he did help the Seattle Seahawks win it all last year. Jaxon Smith-Njigba also broke out in a big way, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors.
With Smith-Njigba only set to play in his age-24 season, his prime could only be just beginning. Darnold isn't even 30 yet, either, so this duo does have a good bit of youth on their side.
1. Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Through three years, Puka Nacua's 95.3 receiving yards per game is the most in NFL history. In 2025, he finished with 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, also leading the NFL with 129 receptions. Nacua has turned into an elite player and is a physical, big-bodied target who wins that way.
And all Matthew Stafford did in 2025 was win the MVP and flirt with 50 touchdown passes. At times, this duo felt unstoppable, and it's important to note that the two best receiving yardage seasons in NFL history belong to Calvin Johnson and Cooper Kupp, who both caught passes from Stafford.
Stafford and Nacua top our power rankings.