49ers’ player stock watch after Week 15 win versus Seahawks

Stock Up: Quarterback Nick Mullens

Let’s go back in time for a moment, back to December of 2013 — the last time the Niners beat the Seahawks. Tell yourself that would be the final time San Francisco would beat its arch rivals until five years later.

And then tell yourself this: San Francisco’s quarterback to beat Seattle would be Nick Mullens, an undrafted rookie who had never seen on-field regular-season snaps until mere weeks before the contest.

Would you believe it? Probably not.

Granted, Mullens’ Week 15 efforts weren’t perfect. He overthrew tight end George Kittle twice, and one of those would have been a walk-in touchdown. But a stat line of 20-of-29 for 275 yards, a touchdown and a passer rating of 110.6 against a playoff-hopeful Seahawks bunch is nonetheless impressive.

Oh, and there’s this too:

“I’d say he’s playing like a top-half quarterback in this league,” cornerback Richard Sherman said after the game, via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. “You have guys that are out there right now that are not playing better football than Nick Mullens. He could be a starter for a lot of teams in this football league.”

Based off the on-field results, it’s hard to argue with Sherman’s point.