BIGGEST MOVERS: San Jose +3 spots | SKC, NE -3 spots
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7
Do you trust a forward crop of Maxi Urruti, Tesho Akindele, Colin Bonner and Getterson to lead this team to a trophy? Any trophy? There's so much to love about this Dallas team, but there's plenty of reason to worry about consistent goal-scoring, especially with Fabian Castillo gone.
Latest result: BYE WEEK
Last five results: W-L-W-D-W
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Sporting KC (MLS LIVE)
2
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 9
No need to worry about goal-scoring here now that Sebastian Giovinco has gone thermonuclear. Just as important for the Reds is that the rotation of No. 9s -- Jordan Hamilton, Tosaint Ricketts and super-sub Jozy Altidore -- have all been healthy, engaged and productive.
Latest result: Won vs. Real Salt Lake, 1-0; Won vs. New England, 4-1
Last five results: L-W-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at Houston (TSN in Canada; MLS LIVE in US)
3
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 20
Back on top in PPG and still unbeaten at home, it hasn't seemed to matter all that much who's fit and who's not for a Rapids team that has continually defied expectations and found answers. The latest answer is Marlon Hairston, whose off-the-ball instincts are as vicious as any winger in the league.
Latest result: Won vs. Vancouver, 2-0
Last five results: D-W-D-L-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at LA Galaxy (MLS LIVE)
4
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 9
Unbeaten in eight, but they've drawn three of their last five at home and are still having to play a ton of emergency defense. The scoreline is what matters most, but teams that play on the edge eventually tend to pay the price.
Latest result: Drew vs. NY Red Bulls, 2-2
Last five results: W-W-W-D-D
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Colorado (MLS LIVE)
5
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 20
Nothing wrong with a road point, even if it was kind of a stale performance and even if they were bailed out by some poor 'Quakes finishing. The good news for NYC is that they've powered through the toughest part of the schedule and have a clear path to home-field advantage – do they even want it? – in the playoffs.
Latest result: Drew at San Jose, 0-0
Last five results: L-W-L-W-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at Columbus (MLS LIVE)
6
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 17
Unbeaten in six and with a favorable schedule left. That's the good news. The bad news is that they lost three guys to injury (Connor Lade, Damien Perrinelle and Bradley Wright-Phillips) on Sunday, which is the kind of bad luck that can undo even the deepest teams.
Latest result: Drew at LA Galaxy, 2-2
Last five results: W-D-W-D-D
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Montreal (MLS LIVE)
7
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15
Javier Morales has come to life over the past two weeks and with him has come RSL's attack. The next step is getting Yura Movsisyan healthy and back onto the field, and then in a rhythm as the playoffs approach.
Latest result: Lost at Toronto, 1-0; Won vs. Chicago, 3-1
Last five results: D-D-W-L-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at Seattle (FS1; MLS LIVE in Canada)
8
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
The Impact have yet to rediscover the sort of rhythm that they entered into the season with, but they have repeatedly found a way to collect points and stay in the hunt. Only two losses in the past 3 1/2 months can attest to that.
Latest result: Won vs. Houston, 1-0
Last five results: D-L-W-D-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at NY Red Bulls (MLS LIVE)
9
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 12
Climbed back above the red line, but with three of the next four on the road, the trick will be staying there. The Timbers are 0-5-6 away from Providence Park this season, and are on a 306-minute goal-less streak away from home.
Latest result: Won vs. Sporting KC, 3-0
Last five results: D-W-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at D.C. United (MLS LIVE)
10
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 19
Philly's mostly fine – they're going to make the playoffs in the East, and they might even end up with a home game. But their propensity for giving up soft, late goals speaks to a lack of maturity on the backline and a lack of clarity through midfield. They have some time to fix it, and a helpful new arrival.
Latest result: Drew at D.C. United, 2-2
Last five results: W-D-L-L-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at New England (MLS LIVE)
11
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 18
Better finishing from the wings and Sporting probably put away that game in Portland early, instead of losing 3-0. That's been the story for them all season.
Latest result: Lost at Portland, 3-0
Last five results: L-L-W-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday at Dallas (MLS LIVE)
12
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 15
The Quakes are reportedly about to sign a big and experienced No. 9, which is a necessary move given how stale and unproductive the attack has been. With games in hand and a quality defense, they'll have a shot at the playoffs, but hope is fading after last weekend's costly draw.
Latest result: Drew vs. NYCFC, 0-0
Last five results: L-W-D-D-D
Next MLS match: Friday at Vancouver (UniMás; TSN in Canada)
13
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 17
Carved up. The Lions probably should have conceded five in that loss to the Sounders, and the question Jason Kreis has to answer is obvious: How can the defense continue to play a high line when the midfield is so slow to get pressure to the opposition?
Latest result: Lost vs. Seattle, 3-1
Last five results: L-D-D-W-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at Chicago (UniMás; MLS LIVE in Canada)
14
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 14
Over the last three months Vancouver have gone 2-5-4, and they've now been shut out in three straight. Combine that with the worst defense in the West, and it's starting to feel like desperation time for the 'Caps.
Latest result: Lost at Colorado, 2-0
Last five results: W-D-D-L-L
Next MLS match: Friday vs. San Jose (UniMás in US; TSN in Canada)
15
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 20
The Power Rankings Politburo has long contended that the Sounders weren't a bad overall team, but rather that they were missing one central brain who could make the whole thing function. Through 180 minutes, Nicolas Lodeiro has been that brain, and if Seattle keep playing as well as they have been, they could find themselves back in the playoff race by the end of the month.
Latest result: Won at Orlando City, 3-1
Last five results: W-L-L-D-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Real Salt Lake (FS1; MLS LIVE in Canada)
16
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 17
They're above the red line in spite of themselves after putting together a 2-5-1 stretch in their past eight, with the only wins coming at home against Columbus and Chicago. The Revs haven't been able to stop anyone, and they're not clicking enough in attack to outscore the better teams in the league.
Latest result: Lost at Toronto, 4-1
Last five results: W-D-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Philadelphia (MLS LIVE)
17
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 20
Just one win since the beginning of June, but still only two points below the red line and holding a game in hand. D.C. fans have reason for hope, even if there's little reason for confidence given how spotty they've been with the last pass.
Latest result: Drew vs. Philadelphia, 2-2
Last five results: L-D-L-D-D
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Portland (MLS LIVE)
18
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20
Houston have conceded more than a single goal just once in the 10 games since Wade Barrett took over. Of course, they've scored more than a single goal just once, and they've now been shut out five times. When your offensive output is that anemic, you can't afford the types of defensive lapses that led to Montreal's game-winner.
Latest result: Lost at Montreal, 1-0
Last five results: D-L-D-D-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Toronto (MLS LIVE; TSN in Canada)
19
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 18 | LOW: 20
The regular season is basically done, which means the Fire have to put all their chips in on Tuesday's night's trip to New England for the U.S. Open Cup semis. The problem is that it's been 25 months and 39 games across all competitions since Chicago last won on the road …
Latest result: Lost at Real Salt Lake, 3-1
Last five results: W-L-L-D-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Orlando City (UniMás; MLS LIVE in Canada)
20
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 20
Got a much-needed week off, and with it some time to reassess and hopefully regroup. Columbus have too much talent to be where they are in the standings.
Latest result: BYE WEEK
Last five results: L-D-D-D-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. NYCFC (MLS LIVE)
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).
