Who has the inside track for MLS Rookie of the Year?
From the looks of it, Oscar Pareja and the rest of the Colorado Rapids technical staff hit a couple home runs at this winter's SuperDraft. We're talking tape-measure shots.
Two Rapids find themselves in the top three this week, and it easily could have been top two. Dillon Powers continues to be a revelation in the Colorado midfield, and Deshorn Brown is starting to harness his prodigious physical gifts.
Meanwhile, New England's Andrew Farrell does his business without fouling and checks in at No. 2. Rounding out the top five are hair All-Stars DeAndre Yedlin and Gyasi Zardes, both of whom have talent and energy to burn heading into the summer months.
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> |
<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>I suggested last week that Powers might need a breather – after all, he's pretty much played a full college season at this point – but you'd have a hard time prying him out of the Rapids midfield right now. Another goal, a tidy first-time finish at the near post, and assist are certainly nice, but it's his spot-on passing and willingness to play both sides of the ball (and be effective doing it) that has him top.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Won at Montreal, 4-3 (1 G, 1 A, 90 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Thursday vs. New York (9:30 ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>) | Sunday vs. D.C. United (9:30 ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 3 G, 2 A (17 GP, 16 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 66 points, $5.8 million (4.9 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>2</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/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>Another standout performance from Powers dropped Farrell a spot, but don't expect any drop off from the right back when he returns to Jay Heaps' lineup this weekend. Consistency has been the name of the game for Farrell, who's quickly found a niche for the Revs. Here's something to mull: the red card against Vancouver was just his third foul of the season in 1,193 minutes. That's Parkhurst-like.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Drew at Chivas USA, 1-1 (DNP, suspension)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. San Jose (7:30 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 (5.6 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" width="40"> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<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>Sporting KC forward C.J. Sapong won 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year honors following a season in which he racked up five goals to go with five assists. Now, Sapong's terrific hold-up play and Kansas City's inspiring run to the top of the East played a part, but Brown is just a goal and an assist away from matching those numbers. He nearly pushed his name into the top two, but there's always next week.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Won at Montreal, 4-3 (1 G, 16 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Thursday vs. New York (9:30 ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>) | Sunday vs. D.C. United (9:30 ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 4 G, 4 A (16 GP, 13 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 61 points, $5.9 million (10 percent owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<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>We're in wait-and-see mode to determine how much, if at all, Yedlin's shoulder knock impacts his playing time. If healthy, he's the Sounders' starting right back and in the thick of the ROY mix. Don't get his drop in these rankings twisted, the rest of the field is just that good right now. With a few vintage performances of his own, the owner of MLS' best haircut will be back on the rise.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Bye</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Wednesday vs. D.C. United (10 ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>) | Saturday at Vancouver (11 ET, NBCSN, TSN, RDS)</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>5</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>5</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>Landon Donovan is gone for the Gold Cup, that much we know. What we don't know is whether or not Zardes can pick up the slack for the Galaxy. If he can take advantage of Robbie Keane's playmaking skills, he should begin to push his more-established ROY competitors. If not, he'll remain on the outskirts, a knock-out talent without the resume of tangible results just yet.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong> Lost at San Jose, 3-2 (86 min)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Thursday vs. Columbus (10:30 ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>) | Sunday vs. Dallas (10:30 ET, <strong><a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a></strong>)</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 2 G (10 GP, 6 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 25 points, $5.6 million (1.2 percent owned)</li></ul> |
Other rookies to watch: Carlos Alvarez (CHV), Walker Zimmerman (DAL), Adam Jahn (SJ), Scott Caldwell (NE), Carlos Salcedo (RSL), Devon Sandoval (RSL), Chad Barson (CLB)
