BIGGEST MOVERS: NY Red Bulls +6 spots | NYCFC, Sporting KC -3 spots
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 20
One shot on target, 34% possession... and three more points. Colorado have a formula that works, and so far they've stuck to it admirably.
Latest result: Won at Seattle, 1-0
Last five results: D-W-W-D-W
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Philadelphia
2
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 19
The Union didn't play anything close to their best but still found a way to snag all three points -- crucial, given the brutal amount of travel they have this week.
Latest result: Won vs. D.C. United, 1-0
Last five results: W-D-D-D-W
Next MLS match: Wednesday at Orlando; Saturday at Colorado
3
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7
No Mauro Diaz, no Maxi Urruti, no Matt Hedges and an early injury to Michael Barrios? No problem. Dallas have answers in depth, most notably jack-of-all-trades attacker Tesho Akindele.
Latest result: Won at New England, 4-2
Last five results: L-L-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at San Jose
4
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 9
The Galaxy are unbeaten in nine, which is very good. But they've won just once in their last four, which is kind of "meh." They'll have to shoot their way out of this mini-slump since the defense has posted just one shutout all season.
Latest result: Drew vs. San Jose, 1-1
Last five results: W-D-W-D-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at Montreal
5
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15
An opportunistic and ruthless bounce-back win after a bad stretch (three losses in four), spurred on by the central defensive pairing of Aaron Maund & Justen Glad. RSL are a perfect 5-0-0 when those two start and 1-3-2 with any other pair.
Latest result: Won at Sporting KC, 3-1
Last five results: L-W-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at Columbus
6
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 6
Their attack has vanished since they returned home to BMO Field. The defense, however, is good enough to keep them afloat while Greg Vanney figures out where the goals are going to come from.
Latest result: Drew vs. NYCFC, 1-1; Drew vs. Columbus, 0-0
Last five results: L-W-L-D-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at NY Red Bulls
7
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7
Winless in six and having taken just four points from the last 18, the Power Rankings Politburo's confidence in the Impact is starting to waver. Montreal are conceding a ton of goals, and the attack hasn't been good enough to make up for it.
Latest result: Lost at Orlando, 2-1
Last five results: D-D-D-D-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. LA Galaxy
8
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 13
That was a beautiful and precious road point on Sunday in Carson. The Quakes just keep scuffling along under the radar, but now face at least two games (including Saturday's trip to Dallas) without a number of key internationals.
Latest result: Drew at LA Galaxy, 1-1
Last five results: W-D-L-W-D
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Dallas
9
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 17
Maybe we overreacted to last week's loss in D.C.? RBNY are now 4-1-1 in their last six and have three shutouts in that span. The early-season hangover appears to be gone.
Latest result: Won vs. Chicago, 1-0; Won at NYCFC, 7-0
Last five results: W-D-L-W-W
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Toronto
10
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 14
Came out flat and got punished, and needed "more emotional control" according to head coach Carl Robinson. They also need to stop conceding so many goals -- the 24 they've shipped is tied for the highest total in the league.
Latest result: Lost at Portland, 4-2
Last five results: L-W-W-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Houston (RDS)
11
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 12
Put an end to the first three-game losing streak of Caleb Porter's career in relatively emphatic fashion while protecting their home turf. Portland's defense is still a concern, but the flow of goals has been steady as they've yet to be shut out in 2016.
Latest result: Won vs. Vancouver, 4-2
Last five results: W-L-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at Chicago
12
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 20
Obviously that was an entirely embarrassing loss (and one that we think points to difficult underlying issues re: roster construction), but NYCFC are still second in the East and did manage to pick up a point at Toronto last Wednesday. So all's not lost.
Latest result: Drew at Toronto, 1-1; Lost vs. NY Red Bulls, 7-0
Last five results: W-W-W-D-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Orlando City (ESPN)
13
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 17
They were in dire straits before Cyle Larin rode to the rescue in the 87th minute. Orlando City, like NYCFC, can not afford to drop any more home points.
Latest result: Won vs. Montreal, 2-1
Last five results: L-D-D-L-W
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. Philadelphia; Sunday at NYCFC (ESPN)
14
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14
Only one win in their last nine, and no answers on either side of the ball from a veteran team that's filled with guys who used to know how to grind through these congested stretches.
Latest result: Lost vs. Real Salt Lake, 3-1
Last five results: D-L-L-W-L
Next MLS match: Friday vs. D.C. United (UniMás)
15
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 17
Seattle had their chances -- many of which fell to the foot of Jordan Morris. They should have walked away with at least a point, but instead walked back to the drawing board.
Latest result: Lost vs. Colorado, 1-0
Last five results: L-W-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Saturday at New England
16
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 17
Only one win in their last eight, and still more horrific struggles from the defense. New England's clock is ticking.
Latest result: Lost vs. Dallas, 4-2
Last five results: D-D-L-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Seattle
17
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 20
Battled and pushed, and probably should have gotten a point. The defense isn't the worry, though -- since they got destroyed in Week 1, it's been mostly fine. The problem is an attack that's produced 1 or fewer goals in nine of 13 games so far.
Latest result: Lost at Philadelphia, 1-0
Last five results: W-D-L-W-L
Next MLS match: Friday at Sporting KC (UniMás)
18
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 19
Speaking of problematic attacks (this is about to be a theme here, folks), Crew SC have scored 1 or fewer goals in nine of 11 games so far. Only four guys currently on the roster have a goal this season.
Latest result: Drew at Toronto, 0-0
Last five results: W-L-D-D-D
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Real Salt Lake
19
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 18 | LOW: 20
Eight straight games without multiple goals, but there is some good news: In their 180 minutes last week Chicago put nine shots on target. In the previous two months they'd managed 11. So there's some progress...
Latest result: Lost at NY Red Bulls, 1-0; Won vs. Houston, 1-0
Last five results: D-L-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Portland
20
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20
They're eight points out of the final playoff spot in the West, which is hardly insurmountable. But that red line is getting further away every week and the Dynamo seem no closer to finding a way to turn their season around.
Latest result: Lost at Chicago, 1-0
Last five results: L-W-L-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday at Vancouver (RDS)
Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks were written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle (@MLSAnalyst).
