MLS Power Rankings, Week 6: Does Schweinsteiger give Chicago a bump?

Welcome to the 2017 MLS Power Rankings, where we rank each team after each week with consideration to form, latest results, stats, and some other intangibles to try and craft an idea of how things stand in one single table.

Here's how each team ranks after Week 6 of the 2017 season:

1. Portland Timbers

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Philadelphia Union
• Next MLS Match: April 15 vs. Sporting KC (10:30 p.m. ET)

The Portland Timbers remain untouchable at the top of these Power Rankings and with a league-leading 16 goals scored, it's not hard to see why.

2. FC Dallas

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Minnesota United
• Next MLS Match: April 14 at San Jose (11:00 p.m. ET)

Still without a loss in league play this season, FC Dallas bounced back from CONCACAF Champions League elimination with a straightforward win over the Loons.

3. Atlanta United

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Toronto FC
• Next MLS Match: April 15 at Montreal (1:00 p.m. ET)

Tata Martino's expansion Atlanta United went toe-to-toe with both of last year's MLS Cup finalists and took a pair of points, making a statement in the process.

4. Orlando City

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. New York Red Bulls
• Next MLS Match: April 15 vs. LA Galaxy (2:30 p.m. ET)

Carlos Rivas has evolved into quite the exciting forward for Orlando City, and with Cyle Larin as a strike partner, the two could form an intriguing combination.

5. Sporting Kansas City

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next MLS Match: April 15 at Portland (10:30 p.m. ET)

If Sporting Kansas City can get more out of its attacking players - like Gerso Fernandes showed this week - this team will be a force in 2017.

Related - Watch: Dwyer opens account thanks to flowing Kansas move

6. Toronto FC

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Atlanta United
• Next MLS Match: April 15 at Columbus (8:00 p.m. ET)

It's difficult to find many faults with Toronto FC after its opening five matches, but wins have been harder to come by than expected - still, the Reds look dangerous.

Related - Watch: Giovinco gets 1st goal of 2017 off sweet Altidore flick

7. Seattle Sounders

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. San Jose Earthquakes
• Next MLS Match: April 14 at Vancouver (10:00 p.m. ET)

The reigning MLS Cup champions they may be, but the Seattle Sounders are suffering the same draw-heavy start as their opponents from the 2016 final.

8. Houston Dynamo

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. New England Revolution
• Next MLS Match: April 15 vs. Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET)

Houston Dynamo took a walloping against the Revs but look a side capable of a quick turnaround. Also, this happened:

9. New York Red Bulls

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Orlando City
• Next MLS Match: April 15 vs. D.C. United (7:30 p.m. ET)

Inexplicably, Jesse Marsch has opted to use a 4-2-2-2 formation instead of what should be a straightforward 4-2-3-1; that might hurt these Red Bulls.

10. New York City FC

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. D.C. United
• Next MLS Match: April 14 at Philadelphia (7:00 p.m. ET)

It's clear there's still work to be done at New York City FC, but the pieces are in place for another strong season under Patrick Vieira.

11. New England Revolution

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Houston Dynamo
• Next MLS Match: April 15 at Chicago (5:00 p.m. ET)

Another strong result for the New England Revolution sees Jay Heaps' side climb the Power Rankings, and with Kei Kamara scoring, things look good.

12. San Jose Earthquakes

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Seattle Sounders
• Next MLS Match: April 14 vs. FC Dallas (11:00 p.m. ET)

Not a bad start for the San Jose Earthquakes, who sit middle of the pack after a pair of wins and losses with a sole tie - equal goals scored and conceded.

13. Chicago Fire

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Columbus Crew
• Next MLS Match: April 15 vs. New England (5:00 p.m. ET)

Have the Chicago Fire finally turned the page on a torrid few seasons? Maybe. Adding Bastian Schweinsteiger certainly helps.

14. LA Galaxy

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Montreal Impact
• Next MLS Match: April 15 vs. Orlando (2:30 p.m. ET)

Romain Alessandrini is starting to flex his star power with the LA Galaxy and that bodes well for Curt Onalfo's side.

15. D.C. United

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. New York City FC
• Next MLS Match: April 15 at NY Red Bulls (7:30 p.m. ET)

Ben Olsen's D.C. United finally found its scoring feet, and that's a positive sign as the club looks to get into a good rhythm entering the second month of the season.

Related - Watch: Lloyd Sam robs NYCFC defender blind to open scoring

16. Columbus Crew

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Chicago Fire
• Next MLS Match: April 15 vs. Toronto FC (8:00 p.m. ET)

We're skeptical of the Columbus Crew at the moment, but there's no question that Kekuta Manneh's pickup was a smart bit of business for Gregg Berhalter.

17. Real Salt Lake

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next MLS Match: April 15 at Colorado (9:00 p.m. ET)

A snow day is A-OK for Real Salt Lake, who took on and defeated the aptly named Whitecaps to record a first victory under Mike Petke.

Related - Watch: Luis Silva hits Tim Parker with snowball

18. Colorado Rapids

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Sporting Kansas City
• Next MLS Match: April 15 vs. Real Salt Lake (9:00 p.m. ET)

It's becoming clear that the Colorado Rapids are deficient in their scoring ranks, and slim-margin victories won't come as easily as they did last season.

19. Montreal Impact

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: April 15 vs. Atlanta (1:00 p.m. ET)

Still without a win in 2017, the Montreal Impact will wait on Ignacio Piatti to return to full health before potentially hitting the panic button.

20. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Real Salt Lake
• Next MLS Match: April 14 vs. Seattle (10:00 p.m. ET)

Carl Robinson must be ruing the loss of Yordy Reyna to injury every day, because the Vancouver Whitecaps look at least halfway decent everywhere except at No. 10.

21. Philadelphia Union

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Portland Timbers
• Next MLS Match: April 14 vs. NYCFC (7:00 p.m. ET)

Things have not gone as planned for Jim Curtin and the Philadelphia Union, who suffered yet another loss to compound a miserable start to 2017.

22. Minnesota United

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. FC Dallas
• Next MLS Match: April 15 at Houston (8:30 p.m. ET)

Minnesota United returned to the familiar comforts of another loss, and will look to regroup for another go at Texan opposition.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)