Forgive us, it's been nearly a month since the last rookie checkup around these parts. Thankfully, this year's crop still boasts a clean bill of health.
Mr. Consistent (but recently red-carded) Andrew Farrell is back at the top, but could that perch be temporary? Perhaps, especially if Seattle's DeAndre Yedlin has anything to say about it.
Meanwhile, Colorado's first-year duo of Dillon Powers and DeShorn Brown remain in the top five despite the Rapids' fluctuating form, and LA's promising forward Gyasi Zardes makes his first appearance of the season.
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/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" width="40"> |
<strong>3</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>Pop quiz! Which team leads MLS in goals allowed? Yep, it's the Revolution, and that's even including the four goals New England allowed in Vancouver on June 15. Farrell has been a massive part of that lockdown, even if he did force his side to play down a man vs. the Whitecaps after a somewhat debatable early red card. These things happen, though, and it seems a given that the Louisville product will hover around the top three of these rankings all season long.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Lost at Vancouver, 4-3 (23 min, red card)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Chivas USA (10:30 pm ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1 A (14 GP, 14 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 72 points, $5.2 million (7.6 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>4</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>No, he's not with the Sounders right now, but you can't in good conscience penalize Yedlin for earning a starting spot in Tab Ramos' US backline at the U-20 World Cup in Turkey. Is he far behind Farrell? Not at all. It's simply a judgment call at this point, with the assumption that the cream of the rookie right-back crop will rise to the top as the season goes on. If Yedlin can start producing in the final third after one of his trademark runs, he may just have the upper hand.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> DNP | Starting right back at FIFA U-20 World Cup with US national team</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Bye</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1 A (12 GP, 12 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 48 points, $4.5 million (3.2 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>1</strong> |
<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>Is it time to give Powers a break? Possibly. Colorado head coach Oscar Pareja seems to be mulling just that, but he just hasn't been able to pull the Notre Dame product from his midfield thus far. Even if he does give Powers a breather, it seems clear he's got a long MLS professional career ahead of him with the Rapids or elsewhere.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Portland, 3-0 (90 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Montreal (7 ET, Univision Deportes)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 2 G, 1 A (16 GP, 15 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 57 points, $5.7 million (3.9 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" width="40"> |
<strong>5</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>Brown is nothing short of a handful. Physically, he's fit right in against MLS defenders and is making his presence felt each week. It's on the technical side of the ball that we're still looking for improvement. If Brown can lay the ball off quicker or take a better touch in certain situations, he's going to put himself in positions to add to the three goals and four assists he's already racked up. And if he can finish those chances, Brown may just get the Jamaica call he craves.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Lost at Portland, 3-0 (90 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Montreal (7 ET, Univision Deportes)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 3 G, 4 A (15 GP, 13 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 55 points, $5.9 million (9.6 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" width="40"> |
<strong>NR</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Zardes_0.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/gyasi-zardes" target="_blank"><strong>Gyasi Zardes</strong></a><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/losangeles_150.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<p>It's very very early, but we may just have the next Jozy Altidore on our hands out in SoCal. Zardes scored his second goal of the season on Sunday against Chivas USA, a towering header off the post, and unleashed eight shots in the Galaxy's 1-0 win. Now, is that efficient? No, but Zardes is only going to get better the more time he gets on the field. Will Bruce Arena give him a run up top next to Robbie Keane? If so, watch out.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Won at Chivas USA, 1-0 (1 G, 87 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at San Jose (10:30 pm ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 2 G (9 GP, 5 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 24 points, $5.6 million (1.0 percent owned)</li></ul> |
Other rookies to watch: Carlos Alvarez (CHV), Adam Jahn (SJ), Erik Hurtado (VAN), Kekuta Manneh (VAN), Scott Caldwell (NE), Carlos Salcedo (RSL), Devon Sandoval (RSL), Chad Barson (CLB), London Woodberry (DAL), Walker Zimmerman (DAL)
