Who Should I Start? Nick Mullens or Luis Perez

Thursday, August 15, 9:45 AM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens will start Saturday's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Despite a challenging 2023 season where he went 0-3 with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions as a starter, Mullens is now firmly positioned as the No. 2 quarterback. Following him on the depth chart is second-year pro Jaren Hall. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence in Mullens due to his solid grasp of the offense. Mullens is known for his high-risk, high-reward style and had notable success during his time with the San Francisco 49ers before joining the Vikings. Though he tends to turn the ball over, with 31 career interceptions in just 20 starts, he also boasts 34 touchdown passes. Last season, after Kirk Cousins' injury, Mullens had mixed results in five games (three starts), with a respectable 8.8 yards per attempt but eight interceptions. Mullens is a veteran with the potential to deliver strong performances, particularly if he maintains his solid rapport with star receiver Justin Jefferson.

Saturday, August 17, 11:22 PM

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Luis Perez completed 13 of his 20 pass attempts for 78 yards, no scores, and no interceptions in the Chargers second preseason game. He took one sack and lost a fumble. Perez and Easton Stick are presumably competing for the backup quarterback job in Los Angeles, a role that could be immediately relevant since Justin Herbert is dealing with a foot injury and Week 1 quickly approaches. Perez was very much a game manager in this one, and that's more or less his upside. Even if he gets the job and plays in the regular season, he won't be much of a fantasy asset.