Every Wednesday, FOX Sports North takes a look at which athletes' stock is trending up and whose is trending down.
In other words, whose is making a meteoric rise, like Stefon Diggs, and whose is plummeting -- like many fans' faith in Jerry Kill.
With that in mind, let's "take stock" of the current sports scene in Minnesota, shall we?
Eric Kendricks, Vikings LB
Obviously, Diggs largely stole the show for the Vikings in Sunday's 16-10 win over Kansas City, but another rookie was underratedly impressive. On the defensive side of the ball, Kendricks constantly harassed the Chiefs, as he filled the stat sheet on a day where Minnesota shut out its opponent for the first three quarters. Kendricks, a 23-year-old UCLA product, registered a game-high 10 total tackles, with one sack and one pass defensed. Kendricks now leads the Vikings in tackles in 2015, with 29.
KJ Maye, Gophers WR
There wasn't much to praise from the Gophers' performance last Saturday, in an uglier-than-expected, 48-25 setback to a four-loss Nebraska squad. Maye was an exception, however. The senior receiver had a game-high 11 receptions and a career-best 94 receiving yards, to go along with 21 rushing yards and a touchdown. Through seven games this season, Maye has 33 receptions for 350 yards and four total scores.
Sylvia Fowles, Lynx C
The first-year center for the Lynx probably didn't get enough credit for Minnesota's run to the WNBA championship, but she was key as her squad routed Indiana in Game 5 last Wednesday night, clinching their title. The 6-foot-6 center scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as Minnesota won, 69-52. That earned Fowles series MVP accolades. After waiting out a midseason trade from Chicago, Fowles went on to play 18 games for the Lynx, averaging 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots.
The Gophers' defense
Yes, injuries have besieged Minnesota's defense at various times this season, especially in the secondary. But that's not a great excuse for the Gophers' porous defense against Nebraska. Huskers QB Tommy Armstrong, Jr. looked like former Nebraska All-American Tommie Frazier at times against the Gophers, accounting for 299 yards from scrimmage and three touchdown passes. Nebraska also rumbled for 203 total rushing yards. At 4-3 overall, it's hard to defend Minnesota's play during this highly anticipated season.
Ricky Rubio, Wolves PG
Rubio spent much of the offseason informing the world of how hard he was training, via social media. And then . . . he sat out the Wolves' first four preseason games, due to a quadriceps ailment. And then . . . in his exhibition debut, the 24-year-old guard failed to score a single point, in Minnesota's 22-point loss Sunday to Memphis. On Tuesday night, he scored eight points with four turnovers in Minnesota's 18-point loss to Milwaukee. Vamonos, Ricky.
Gophers men's hockey
It's safe to say this isn't how coach Don Lucia envisioned the start of the 2015-16 campaign. Three games in, the Gophers are not only a surprising 0-3, but also Lucia's troops have scored just one total goal so far. Minnesota was swept by instate rival Minnesota Duluth last weekend, losing 3-1 on Friday before getting blanked by a 3-0 margin on Saturday. Minnesota was 0 for 8 on the power play over the weekend.
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