For the first time this season, the top five isn't altogether safe. It remains the same (for now), but San Jose's Adam Jahn is pushing for a place in the Rookie Rankings as well.
Andrew Farrell remains atop the charts after a shaky performance in New York, but he's hanging on by a thread as Seattle right back DeAndre Yedlin continues to turn in solid performances – the most recent in Colorado as the Sounders won their first MLS match of the not-so-young season.
There was some shuffling in spots 3-5 as well, with the Rapids' Deshorn Brown falling to No. 3 after missing a game through injury and Dillon Powers and Carlos Alvarez flip-flopping in the final two spots.
Who do you think has inside track for Rookie of the Year recognition? Have your say in the comments section below or make your voice heard by voting in the poll to the right!
For a more detailed look at Major League Soccer's best young talent, check out MLSsoccer.com's 24 Under 24 series.
Only MLS regular-season games reflected on schedule and statistics.
<strong>Rank</strong> |
<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Last </strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<br><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Andrew-Farrell.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/andrew-farrell" target="_blank"><strong>Andrew Farrell</strong></a><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newengland_150.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<p>Farrell stays top this week, but by the skin of his teeth. The rookie has been so solid this season that it was almost shocking to see Thierry Henry blow past him before scoring the Red Bulls' third goal and Jonny Steele win the race to the back post on the fourth. <em>Almost</em>. It is Henry after all, and part of Farrell's adjustment process is learning how to deal with players of that caliber. Still, he won't stay at No. 1 for long if that kind of performance becomes commonplace.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at New York, 4-1 (90 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Philadelphia (7:30 ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 6 GP, 6 GS</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 32 points, $5.0 million (3.2 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" width="40"> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<br><br><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/DeAndre-Yedlin.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/deandre-yedlin" target="_blank"><strong>DeAndre Yedlin</strong></a><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<p>Last week, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/04/17/rookie-rankings-rapids-deshorn-brown-or-revs-andrew-farrell-who-will-take-to" target="_blank">we praised Yedlin for his attacking instincts in the Rookie Rankings</a>. This week, he put in a solid shift on the defensive side of the ball against the Rapids. Though he rarely ventured out of the Seattle half and completed just one pass past the halfway line, he's clearly more versatile than some might have you believe. He's also no longer on the outside looking in when it comes to the US Under-20 national team, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/04/22/report-deandre-yedlin-omar-salgado-named-us-u-20-team-ahead-california-camp" target="_blank">after receiving a call-up for next month's camp ahead of the U-20 World Cup.</a></p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Won at Colorado, 1-0 (90 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Bye week</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1 A (6 GP, 6 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 26 points, $4.6 million (4.9 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<br><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/DeShorn-Brown.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/deshorn-brown" target="_blank"><strong>Deshorn Brown</strong></a><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/colorado_150.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<p>Fantasy owners must have groaned when <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/04/20/thigh-injury-rules-colorado-rapids-deshorn-brown-out-seattle-sounders-match" target="_blank">Brown pulled out of last weekend's game vs. Seattle</a> with a thigh injury, but he's already <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/04/22/amid-injury-crisis-enveloping-colorado-rapids-striker-deshorn-brown-confiden" target="_blank">assured everyone that he'll be ready come Sunday's match in Houston</a>. Now he has to convince Rapids head coach Oscar Pareja that he's both fit and a better option up top than Danny Mwanga, who managed just one shot in 90 minutes against the Sounders.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Lost vs. Seattle, 1-0 (DNP, injured)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday at Houston (5 pm ET, UniMas)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 2 G, 1 A (7 GP, 7 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 27 points, $6.2 million (13.3 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<br><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Dillon-Powers.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/dillon-powers" target="_blank"><strong>Dillon Powers</strong></a><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/colorado_150.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<p><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/node/217228" target="_blank">Martín Rivero is almost back</a>, and that's good news for Powers. Rivero's presence should allow the Notre Dame grad Powers to settle into the box-to-box role to which he seems best suited, if he can hold onto his place on the field. Colorado struggled to create much against the Sounders, but Powers still chipped in with five key passes (those that lead directly to shots) and took on some of the corner-kick duties while providing his normal dogged midfield work.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Lost vs. Seattle, 1-0 (90 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday at Houston (5 pm ET, UniMas)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1 G (8 GP, 8 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 27 points, $5.5 million (1.4 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Carlos-Alvarez.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/carlos-alvarez" target="_blank"><strong>Carlos Alvarez</strong></a><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chivas_150.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<p>Alvarez continues to man a place in Chivas USA's starting XI, but he's got Jahn breathing down his neck in the Rookie Rankings. Alvarez holds onto the fifth spot because he continues to find a way to get into scoring positions. He pulled the trigger four times against Real Salt Lake, but two were blocked, one was off target and the other saved. He'll be desperate to score No. 2 if that pattern holds up.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Real Salt Lake, 1-0 (90 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. San Jose (10:30 pm ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/?utm_source=MLSsoccer&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=MLS%2BLive" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1 G (5 GP, 4 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 19 points, $5.2 million (1.6 percent owned)</li></ul> |
Rookies to watch: Erik Hurtado (VAN), Scott Caldwell (NE), Adam Jahn (SJ), Devon Sandoval (RSL), Kyle Bekker (TOR)
