Minnesota Vikings

Midweek Stock Report: Wild's Eriksson Ek making good first impression

Published Oct. 26, 2016 12:11 p.m. ET

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Every Wednesday, FOX Sports North takes a look at which athlete's stock is trending up and whose is trending down.

In other words, who is making a meteoric rise, and who is quickly plummeting.

With that in mind, let's "take stock" of the current sports scene in Minnesota, shall we?

Joel Eriksson Ek, Wild forward

The Wild have six more games to assess Eriksson Ek before they'll need to either keep him for the season or return him to his club in Sweden. After another big game for the 19-year-old Swede it shouldn't be much of a decision. Eriksson Ek had three assists in the Wild's 5-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, just days after scoring his first career goal.

Devan Dubnyk, Wild goalie

Dubnyk made 27 saves against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday for his first shutout. It's just the sixth shutout overall in the NHL this season. The Wild's top 'tender currently has a .924 save percentage through five games, good enough for ninth in the league.

Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings wide receiver

Minnesota's loss Sunday at Philadelphia wasn't pretty, but one of the bright spots was the fourth-year wide receiver. Patterson was targeted seven times against the Eagles and caught each pass, totaling 67 yards and a touchdown. After being MIA last season on offense, Patterson is becoming a more integral part of what Minnesota is doing in 2016; he was in on 67 percent of the offensive snaps, which was a season high.

John Lucas III, Wolves guard

Lucas hasn't played in an NBA game since April 15, 2015. But the 33-year-old point guard, who has played for five NBA teams, two D-League teams and in Italy, Spain, China and Puerto Rico since leaving Oklahoma State in 2005, made Minnesota's 15-man opening-game roster. That's some perseverance.

Sam Bradford, Vikings quarterback

At least Philly fans didn't throw batteries at him. Bradford was run over in Philadelphia thanks to a porous offensive line, losing a pair of fumbles and throwing an end-zone interception for his first three turnovers of the season. His 58.54 completion percentage was his worst of the season, as was his 71.6 passer rating.

Jake Long, Vikings tackle

Long's first appearance in purple didn't go quite as planned. The nine-year veteran was turnstiled by defensive end Connor Barwin on a pair of sacks that led to Bradford's lost fumbles. Hopefully it's just rust.