Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff; words by Alicia Rodriguez.
BIGGEST MOVERS: PHI, CHI +5; RBNY, COL -5
1
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 4
LAFC jump back up to the top of the Power Rankings after demolishing the Quakes in San Jose. Take it with a grain of salt given the Quakes' form? Sure, probably. LAFC will have a huge test on their hands in a top of the table clash against D.C. United this week.
Previous: 5-0 win at SJ | Next: at DC on 4/6
2
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 6
Like LAFC, D.C. remain unbeaten but had to sweat out their win over Orlando City. Consider that they had gone nearly a year since winning on the road, however, and a few nerves aren't such a surprise. D.C. look far and away the best team in the Eastern Conference right now.
Previous: 2-1 win at ORL | Next: vs. LAFC on 4/6
3
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 5
The Sounders' drop may be a bit harsh, as they also remain unbeaten and are coming off a Cascadia Cup road match. But the attack being shutout against a Vancouver team yet to earn a point was a bit surprising. As long as their top players stay healthy, they look set to be in the pack of elite teams.
Previous: 0-0 draw at VAN | Next: vs. RSL on 4/6
4
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 5
It seems safe to call Sporting the other elite team in the league at the moment -- how could you not, after they scored a touchdown against the Impact? Their season doesn't quite come down to this Concacaf Champions League semifinal series against Monterrey, but their early aspirations for 2019 hinge on it.
Previous: 7-1 win vs. MTL | Next: at CIN on 4/7
5
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 11
The learning curve continues with aplomb as Dallas hit the road and hit the gas on a faltering RSL side. With as well as Paxton Pomykal has started this season, is there a chance he may not go to the U-20 World Cup for the US? Dallas may need him too much to let him go.
Previous: 4-2 win at RSL | Next: at PHI on 4/6
6
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 13
The Dynamo keep picking up points and they may be slightly disappointed with another bye week considering how well they're playing. It's worth wondering if the Dynamo can keep going when their schedule gets tougher, but they can only play the teams in front of them and so far, so good.
Previous: 4-1 win at COL | Next: vs. SJ on 4/13
7
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 9
They probably didn't quite plan it this way, but putting up two first-half goals and then riding out a game that was played in a flood was a great strategy for a win. Even better, Columbus thoroughly outplayed Atlanta, so they were good value for the win.
Previous: 2-0 win vs. ATL | Next: vs. NE on 4/6
8
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 19
Psst...Toronto FC remain unbeaten too and have largely been forgotten in discussions of the top teams in MLS. After Alejandro Pozuelo's outstanding debut, however, there will likely be more attention on the Reds moving forward, and rightly so.
Previous: 4-0 win vs. NYC | Next: vs. CHI on 4/6
9
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 12
It wasn't perfect but it was enough for the Galaxy to win again, something Guillermo Barros Schelotto perfected at Boca Juniors. LA have had some wild games in Vancouver, and with Zlatan's status uncertain, it's hard to gauge what they'll look like on Friday.
Previous: 2-1 win vs. POR | Next: at VAN on 4/5
10
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 10
You win some, you lose some. But the Red Bulls have lost two in a row, to teams expected to be far below their level. It's a bump, and we'll have to see if they can get on track or if this dip in form is going to last some time.
Previous: Lost 1-0 at CHI | Next: vs. MIN on 4/6
11
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 20
Meanwhile, the Union are starting to click and maybe it's 2018 all over again? After a woeful start, they have two wins in a row, including a road game against a confident FC Cincinnati. FC Dallas is up next, and the Union will be eager to avoid a deflating result.
Previous: 2-0 win at CIN | Next: vs. DAL on 4/6
12
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 15
The Loons are still off to a good start, considering their schedule has been entirely on the road, but getting outplayed by a desperate New England side is somewhat concerning. Only one more road game before Allianz Field opens, and chances are they'll settle into the new digs pretty well.
Previous: 2-1 loss at NE | Next: at RBNY on 4/6
13
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 13 | LOW: 24
A setback for FC Cincy, who didn't have an answer for Philadelphia. Their quest for a historic start may be gone and they've got a tough game against Sporting KC coming up, but perhaps the CCL distraction will give Alan Koch's group space to pick up more points.
Previous: 2-0 loss vs. PHI | Next: vs. SKC on 4/7
14
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 14
What was that?! As Matt Doyle noted, Montreal were missing their two best players and it showed in an eye-popping loss. At the same time, those two players wouldn't have been able to hold back a seven spot. Time to shrug it off and move on for Remi Garde and his squad.
Previous: 7-1 loss at SKC | Next: vs. NYC on 4/6
15
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15
The voting panel is not impressed with Atlanta, and that's fair, although it may be rather unfair to derive many conclusions from a game that featured such adverse conditions. On paper, Atlanta should get on track at New England after a bye week, but another loss and we'll just have to throw the paper out the window.
Previous: 2-0 loss at CLB | Next: at NE on 4/13
16
LAST WEEK: 21
HIGH: 16 | LOW: 21
Chicago were able to muck it up with the Red Bulls and came out on top. It could be a turning point, even this early in the season, but it will be interesting to see how they cope with front-foot attacking teams, of which there are an increasing number in the league, moving forward.
Previous: 1-0 win vs. RBNY | Next: at TOR on 4/6
17
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 17
The Impact and the Quakes are drawing the bad press coming out of the week and NYCFC are getting off a bit easy, perhaps, after turning in their weakest performance of a tepid season to date. They aren't adrift of the East yet, but if they wait much longer to get results they will be.
Previous: 4-0 loss at TOR | Next: vs. MTL on 4/6
18
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 18
If NYCFC have looked lackluster, RSL's issue is the opposite, with the players at times seemingly over aggressive. That's not to say that some of their red cards haven't been unlucky, but a persistent trend of reds (like four in their last three games) means they may need to dial down the intensity.
Previous: 4-2 loss vs. DAL | Next: at SEA on 4/6
19
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 18 | LOW: 21
Credit to Orlando for the valiant effort in a loss, but the sour grapes over a single play seems not only counterproductive, it seems to have left the entire team fixated on it. Soccer can be a cruel sport with a single play making the difference, but this seems like a time to just get on with it.
Previous: 2-1 loss vs. DC | Next: vs. COL on 4/6
20
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 20
As expected, the Timbers changed their approach and it led to their best performance to date this season. In fact, without those penalties, Portland won the game on the run of play. Unfortunately, that's not how soccer works, but they've got a great chance at a win coming up against the Earthquakes.
Previous: 2-1 loss at LA | Next: at SJ on 4/6
21
LAST WEEK: 23
HIGH: 21 | LOW: 23
Messaged received, apparently, as the Revolution put in a tough and gritty performance to grab their first win of the season. Brad Friedel has promised a Designated Player is on the way, and with the impact of Carles Gil so far, it seems obvious that the team could use more players able to immediately contribute.
Previous: 2-1 win vs. MIN | Next: at CLB on 4/6
22
LAST WEEK: 22
HIGH: 21 | LOW: 23
The voting panel wants to see more, but there are springtime shoots of green for the Whitecaps after going toe-to-toe against the high octane Sounders. Joaquin Ardaiz's nifty cut to produce two last-minute chances deserved a goal at the end of it.
Previous: 0-0 draw vs. SEA | Next: vs. LA on 4/5
23
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 16 | LOW: 23
So much for any optimism surrounding the Rapids, who are winless in five games to start the season and failed to even come out of the gates against the Dynamo at home. They might need more time to get on the same page, but if they keep racking up dispiriting losses, they'll never get on track.
Previous: 4-1 loss vs. HOU | Next: at ORL on 4/6
24
LAST WEEK: 24
HIGH: 22 | LOW: 24
If you thought some time would give the Earthquakes a chance to build some chemistry, think again. Matias Almeyda may be right that his project will take time and he doesn't have the group he needs yet, but it's more than a little concerning that the new players this season by and large seem to be well below MLS standard.
Previous: 5-0 loss vs. LAFC | Next: vs. POR on 4/6
