Who Should I Start? Nick Mullens or Sam Darnold

Monday, January 8, 1:35 PM

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens put on a show in the Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday by going 30-for-44 for 396 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked four times for a loss of 37 yards and ran twice for eight yards. Mullens ended up being Minnesota's best option under center down the stretch after Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles, and the 28-year-old QB finished with a 67.57% completion percentage, 1,306 passing yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions in five appearances (three starts). He had 300 yards and multiple touchdowns in all three of his starts, although turnovers were clearly an issue. With Cousins' future in doubt in Minnesota, Mullens' late-season performance could at least put him in consideration for the starting job in 2024 if the Vikes move on from Cousins this offseason.

Monday, March 25, 2:16 PM

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that he's happy to have veteran quarterback Sam Darnold on the team this year. "I think his best football is ahead of him because of how he handled the last couple of years," O'Connell said. The Vikings head coach points out that he saw growth with Darnold's fundamentals as he worked as Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco last year, and he's excited to get to work with him in Minnesota. The Vikings signed the former first-rounder to a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason, and depending on what the team does in the upcoming NFL draft, Darnold could open the year as the starter under center in Week 1. He'll have one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson to work with if he's starting, but Darnold will still be a midrange QB2, at best, in fantasy.