Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
The ancient Greeks had a saying: “Those that bathe together bask in the glory of victory together.”
It’s the oldest recorded version of what is today known as the “Shower Narrative” — which suggests that QB-WR (or QB-TE) duos who played together in college will have more success in the NFL as a result of their brotherly bonds.
There are only three relevant Shower Narratives to keep tabs on among starters in 2022 and a half, check Honorable Mention at the bottom). This article will rank and rate them.
No. 1 — Quadruple Shower Head at An All-Inclusive Resort
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase — along with Justin Jefferson, because that was somehow deemed fair — went scorched earth at LSU a few years ago and turned in arguably the best offensive season in college football history.
All those showers together must have paid off, because Burrow-Chase continued blazing a path in their first NFL year together. Chase set rookie records, Burrow went clutch mode down the stretch, and the duo ended up leading the Bengals — the Bengals! — to the Super Bowl.
Burrow and Chase synced for 8 deep-ball TDs last year, easily the most in the NFL:
For fantasy (and real) football purposes, there’s no better Shower Narrative combo than Burrow-Chase. And with Aaron Rodgers–Davante Adams and Patrick Mahomes–Tyreek Hill breaking up, there actually might not even be a better QB-WR combo regardless of Shower Narrative status.
No. 2 — Ideal Temperature-Pressure Combination, But Only In The Ad Because You’ve Never Actually Used It Yet
Derek Carr and Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
If Burrow-Chase weren’t already proven dominators together, this bromance would take the top spot. You know these two guys must really love each other like brothers, because Davante Adams willingly left a Hall of Fame trajectory career with Aaron Rodgers to play with Derek Carr, his former college QB.
The Carr-Adams connection has all the makings of a great duo, but it’s only great on paper because we haven’t seen it in the pros. But considering Carr should be cheap in fantasy drafts all offseason, landing this duo will be easier to swallow, cost-wise, than the Burrow-Chase pairing.
No. 3 — Hot Shower That Turns Ice Cold Whenever Someone in the Apartment Complex Flushes The Toilet
Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
These former ‘Bama teammates were solid together during Jaylen Waddle’s rookie season in 2021. In 11 games with Tua Tagovailoa playing at least 10 snaps, Waddle had better receiving stats across the board. His production in half-PPR and standard nearly doubled with Tagovailoa compared to without, per our FTN Fantasy splits tool.
The biggest thing holding this duo back is Tagovailoa’s “unproven” factor. Waddle has already shown he can be electric. Tagovailoa has not. Among qualified QBs, Tagovailoa ranked third lowest in average depth of target last season, at just 7.03 yards.
That style of play actually fits Waddle, but it’s more of a “good for Waddle” thing than a “good for both of them” thing. There’s also the fact the Dolphins just traded nearly an entire draft’s worth of picks for Tyreek Hill, who will occupy much of the same space as Waddle and all-but-assuredly immediately step in as Miami’s No. 1.
Honorable Mention: Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
This duo gets an honorable mention, because they didn’t finish college together, but it still counts — if only because Jalen Hurts apparently cooked food for DeVonta Smith that Smith called “angelic.” That’s a bond forged in fire.
Smith’s rookie year with Hurts would be getting a lot more attention if it weren’t for Chase turning in a second-team All-Pro season. Smith hauled in 64 receptions for 916 yards and 5 TDs and should make a leap to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in 2022.
Hurts, meanwhile, led the Eagles to the playoffs and led fantasy teams far as well, as he went from a 10th-round speculative fantasy pick last season to an every-week starter. He’ll be a top option once again in 2022.
