Best "triplets" in the current NFL

[Cowboy Brian]

So, I was listening to the Dave Dameshek Football Podcast and they discussed at length the top "triplets" in the NFL. This is, although I don't think this needs to be explained to Cowboys fans of all people, a measurement based off of the all-time great triplet set of Irvin, Aikman and Smith. They argued at length, particularly about the ranking of the Cowboys current triplets - Bryant, Romo, Murray. They seemed to agree we were top five, with some ranking us as 1B to the Pittsburgh Steelers set of Brown, Roethlisberger, Bell.

You rank teams in the current NFL based off of their QB1, WR1 and HB1. That's all. No weighting a RBBC above a single RB, no saying a duo of WRs are better than a teams #1. Just those three players. Now, please rank the top triplets in the NFL and identify where you rank the Dallas Cowboys.

After much thought, I put us at #1. The Steelers and Packers are the biggest challengers to this title, but my argument is based on this - simply do an average of where you rank each of the three players. Say Romo is the 8th best QB in the league, Bryant is the 2nd best WR, and Murray is the 3rd best RB. That'd be an unweighted average of 4.33. I don't think any team can beat it. Pittsburgh is the closest, IMO.

 

[dstovall5]

Off the top of my head these guys would be somewhere near the top -

Tony Romo
Dez Bryant
DeMarco Murray

Peyton Manning
Demarius Thomas
Montee Ball

Aaron Rodgers
Jordy Nelson
Eddy Lacy

Mathew Stafford
Calvin Johnson
Reggie Bush

Matt Ryan
Julio Jones
Steven Jackson

Jay Cutler
Brandon Marshall/Alshon Jeffery
Matt Forte

Ben Roethlisberger
Antonio Brown
Levon Bell

I think I'd rank my top 5 as -

1)Denver
2)Dallas
2b)Steelers
3)Lions
4)Bears
5)GB

I'm sure I missing some triplets though that are pretty great around the league.

 

[perrykemp]

If by triplets you mean outstanding WR/RB/QB combos -- off the top of my head, these are some of the good ones:

Dez / Murray / Romo
Marshall / Forte / Cutler
Nelson / Lacy / Rodgers


I am sure there are many more, but I can't think of them.

 

[perrykemp]

Off the top of my head these guys would be somewhere near the top -

Tony Romo
Dez Bryant
DeMarco Murray

Peyton Manning
Demarius Thomas
Montee Ball

Aaron Rodgers
Jordy Nelson
Eddy Lacy

Mathew Stafford
Calvin Johnson
Reggie Bush

Matt Ryan
Julio Jones
Steven Jackson

Jay Cutler
Brandon Marshall/Alshon Jeffery
Matt Forte

Ben Roethlisberger
Antonio Brown
Levon Bell

I think I'd rank my top 5 as -

1)Denver
2)Dallas
2b)Steelers
3)Lions
4)Bears
5)GB

I'm sure I missing some triplets though that are pretty great around the league.

I personally wouldn't count Denver because Ball has yet prove himself. I don't count Detroit because Bush splits time and isn't an every down back. I don't count Atlanta because, frankly, think Jackson is done.

I totally agree with you on Big Ben/Antonio Brown/Bell. I am MUCHO impressed with Bell.

 

[DFWJC]

I don't think Monte Ball is very good. He's ranked high in fantasy due to the team he's on, but he's done nothing in real football to justify it.

 

[theogt]

I would have expected there to be better sets than what's been listed, but I've never really thought about it. You definitely have to put us in the top 3 in the league in that regard.

 

[DTown214]

The best honestly is the Cowboys with Romo/Dez/Murray. Every other one has a weak link, ours is the best overall.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

I am surprised no one has mentioned the bus driver, Lynch and Doug Baldwin yet......

 

[TRUTH87]

Whos our ''weak'' link? obviously not Dez. so Murray with his fumbilitis? or Romo?

 

[DFWJC]

Rodgers
Nelson
Lacy

 

[TheFinisher]

Whos our ''weak'' link? obviously not Dez. so Murray with his fumbilitis? or Romo?

Clearly Romo right now, but if he can get himself straightened out we're easily the top triplet team. Dez and Murray are top 5 at their positions, no other team has that combo.

 

[dstovall5]

Whos our ''weak'' link? obviously not Dez. so Murray with his fumbilitis? or Romo?

I honestly don't think we really have a "weak link". Dez is a top 5 WR, Murray is a top 10 RB, and Romo is a top 10 QB when healthy. Pittsburgh is the only other team in the NFL with a top 5 WR, top 10 RB, and a top 10 QB.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Whos our ''weak'' link? obviously not Dez. so Murray with his fumbilitis? or Romo?

That's how you judge these things, I think. Not the overall strength, but the team with the strongest 3rd triplet. Well, and all three have to be the clear number ones at their position.

For Dallas, it's a close call between Romo, who's not at 100%, and Murray, who's not holding onto the ball.

The real contenders here are:
DAL
GB: Not so good so far this year, but if they get in gear like they're capable of, it's not all that obvious who the weak link is.
CHI: Cutler's not a bad weak link.
PIT: Roethlisberger's the weak link, but Brown and Bell are really really good.

Others in the conversation:
DEN: Ball needs to do a lot more to be a triplet.
DET: Bush isn't really the clear #1.
CIN: If Gio cements his position as the clear #1, they vault into the next tier, but I'm not sure that'll happen with Jeremy Hill around.

That's about it. Can't think of another team where you can point to one guy at each position (or point to him without laughing anyway).

 

[perrykemp]

Clearly Romo right now, but if he can get himself straightened out we're easily the top triplet team. Dez and Murray are top 5 at their positions, no other team has that combo.

I guess it depends on how you measure these guys. Production? Potential? Recent Past Performance? All of the above?

Right now Dez Bryant is 15th in the NFL in yardage. Last year he finished 13th. If you are counting TDs, then is much higher.

Right now Romo is ranked 20th in the NFL in QB rating.

Obviously Murray is the #1 rusher by yards and TDs (tied with a bunch).

 

[BourbonBalz]

Off the top of my head these guys would be somewhere near the top -

Tony Romo
Dez Bryant
DeMarco Murray

Peyton Manning
Demarius Thomas
Montee Ball

Aaron Rodgers
Jordy Nelson
Eddy Lacy

Mathew Stafford
Calvin Johnson
Reggie Bush

Matt Ryan
Julio Jones
Steven Jackson

Jay Cutler
Brandon Marshall/Alshon Jeffery
Matt Forte

Ben Roethlisberger
Antonio Brown
Levon Bell

I think I'd rank my top 5 as -

1)Denver
2)Dallas
2b)Steelers
3)Lions
4)Bears
5)GB

I'm sure I missing some triplets though that are pretty great around the league.

Steven Jackson certainly does not belong on this list. He isn't even a starting quality RB anymore. Monte Ball? Maybe in the future. Not right now.

 

[Craig]

i would love to see Bell behind an elite line. I think behind dallas' line he'd be in the discussion as the best back in the league. He is awesome.

Id really only put dallas, chicago, pittsburgh in this discussion.

Last year at this time i hated brown, but he has become undeniable. Possibly the best reciever after the ball is in his hands.

Id say basically im leaning towards pittsburgh. Then dallas, then chicago.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I guess it depends on how you measure these guys. Production? Potential? Recent Past Performance? All of the above?

Right now Dez Bryant is 15th in the NFL in yardage. Last year he finished 13th. If you are counting TDs, then is much higher.

Right now Romo is ranked 20th in the NFL in QB rating.

Obviously Murray is the #1 rusher by yards and TDs (tied with a bunch).

Troy Aikman's numbers were generally pedestrian as well.

 

[dstovall5]

Steven Jackson certainly does not belong on this list. He isn't even a starting quality RB anymore. Monte Ball? Maybe in the future. Not right now.

I think Atlanta is easily one of the best triplets in the league, maybe not necessarily due to Jackson, but they're still one of the best overall. Same thing with Denver, Montee Ball may not be that good, but it doesn't matter as we're talking about 3 players and not just one. Peyton Manning and Demarius Thomas alone are easily top 5, any RB they have is just cake. Also Montee Ball is considered by many to be a talented starting RB in the NFL.

Ok so if you're not putting Steven Jackson on the list for ATL, who else would you put? I'll admit I haven't watched many ATL games, but I'm assuming Jackson is still a quality starting RB in the NFL(he's just had injury problems). I can see Steven Jackson getting interchanged with another ATL RB, but I don't see how another DEN RB is > Ball.

 

[AbeBeta]

Rodgers
Nelson
Lacy

Eddie Lacy looks awful so far this year

 

[AbeBeta]

I don't think Monte Ball is very good. He's ranked high in fantasy due to the team he's on, but he's done nothing in real football to justify it.

You don't think 3.4 YPC is good?