Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks were written by the editorial staff.
BIGGEST MOVERS: Portland +8 spots | Montreal -6 spots
1
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 3
It looks like Kellyn Acosta has made The Leap™ from "Talented Young Starter" to "Potential Best XI Candidate." Dallas are the best team in the league right now, and he's been their best player.
Latest result(s): Won at LA Galaxy, 2-1
2
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 2
If anybody can give Seba the yips, it's Nightmare Nick Rimando the PK Dementor. But Toronto showed well, and if the defense holds, this squad could cruise through the East.
Latest result(s): Drew at Real Salt Lake, 0-0
3
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 11
The best Timbers team in MLS history featuring the best front six in MLS. Those preseason predictions look spot on after Week 1.
Latest result(s): Won vs. Minnesota, 5-1
4
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 4
Not the prettiest win, but it was a playoff team’s win. Taught the new boys a lesson in how to play a second half and walked away with three road points.
Latest result(s): Won at Atlanta, 2-1
5
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 5
So the second half was an improvement, and Deuce scoring in his first game back was hella obvious, but Houston? Really? #WhatHaveYouDoneForMeLately
Latest result(s): Lost at Houston, 2-1
6
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 10
The Rapids are binary, and 1-0 is their preferred language on the field. It may not be pretty, but at this point you can’t argue it’s not effective. Opening day win without Tim Howard AND Shkelzen Gashi? Doubt Colorado at your own peril.
Latest result(s): Won vs. New England, 1-0
7
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 9
Road point? That’ll do. Still, there were a few warning signs. You can’t take goal-line clearances for granted, Tim Melia’s double PK save was clutch but only necessary because he steamrolled Julian Buescher and DC’s magic man Lucho Acosta didn’t play because of injury. Gerso Fernandes looks legit, though.
Latest result(s): Drew at D.C. United, 0-0
8
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 8
A loss for the first match out is naturally going to bump the blue guys down a couple spots – but they haven’t gotten a shot at home yet. That’s definitely going to give them some confidence.
Latest result(s): Lost at Orlando, 1-0
9
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 9
If the Power Rankings Politburo had to guess, Marcelo Sarvas won’t be taking any more penalties this year. Between that and the goal-line clearances, Ben Olsen will consider that two points dropped. Ian Harkes in Week 2, please…
Latest result(s): Drew vs. Sporting KC, 0-0
10
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 10
The first game of a new era wasn't inspiring, but there are clearly going to be more moves made by the Galaxy. In the short term, though, there are real worries about their chemistry in central midfield on both sides of the ball.
Latest result(s): Lost vs. Dallas, 2-1
11
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 13
Bent but didn’t break at home against an MLS Cup contender. A result to build on, but they need more out of Rusnak, Allen & Co. in attack.
Latest result(s): Drew vs. Toronto, 0-0
12
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 12 | LOW: 19
Whoa Dynamo. Their front three were very impressive in the first half, but it's clear they could be even sharper. Beating the defending champs is no small task so savor this Dynamo faithful.
Latest result(s): Won vs. Seattle, 2-1
13
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 13 | LOW: 15
Dynamic attack. Early lead. Missed chances. Center back getting torched in isolation. Squandered late points. Nightmarish repeat of 2016? Crew SC fans might need talking off the ledge and we're only one week in...
Latest result(s): Drew vs. Chicago, 1-1
14
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 14
Ignacio Piatti was effectively shut down by an organized Quakes defense and Mauro Biello's team had no other answers offensively. Hopefully this doesn't become a trend.
Latest result(s): Lost at San Jose, 1-0
15
LAST WEEK: 21
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 21
Well that was the right direction from "boring" - Mission accomplished, v1.0, Jesse Fioranelli. Now just do it next week. Anibal Godoy is the most fun central midfielder you're not watching.
Latest result(s): Won vs. Montreal, 1-0
16
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 12 | LOW: 16
The Union didn't generate much of anything at all going forward, but they'll take a point on the road every single time. Youngster Derrick Jones was solid, and veteran Oguchi Onyewu showed off that old man strength a couple of times as well.
Latest result(s): Drew at Vancouver, 0-0
17
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 17
A rough welcome to MLS for Tata’s men, but we’re licking our chops at the speed that was on display at Bobby Dodd. Write the ATLiens off at your own peril.
Latest result(s): Lost vs. Red Bulls, 2-1
18
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 17 | LOW: 18
Sometimes, power rankings shift by dint of other teams also just being pretty great. That’s what befell Orlando this week; they’ll most certainly bounce back.
Latest result(s): Won vs. NYCFC, 1-0
19
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 19 | LOW: 20
Back down to earth after a week breathing the rarefied air of CCL success. We can forgive Carl Robinson for having an eye on Tigres already, but questions still need to be answered on both sides of the ball.
Latest result(s): Drew vs. Philadelphia, 0-0
20
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 16 | LOW: 20
Not the first team to be stymied by the Rapids (and the Lee Nguyen injury didn’t exactly help). In a less than convincing display, at least the Angoua-Delamea pairing looked promising.
Latest result(s): Lost at Colorado, 1-0
21
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 18 | LOW: 21
Not sure what's up with this ranking but the Fire showed some grit getting a draw in Columbus. They should have been down even more, but some poor Crew SC finishing allowed David Accam to work his magic and get a point.
Latest result(s): Drew at Columbus, 1-1
22
LAST WEEK: 22
HIGH: 22 | LOW: 22
There’s no surprise – the Loons’ defeat in their first MLS match wasn’t pretty. They can only go up from here.
Latest result(s): Lost at Portland, 5-1
