MLS Power Rankings, Week 2: LAFC surges upward after inspired start

Welcome to the 2018 MLS Power Rankings, where we rank each team after each week with consideration to form, latest results, stats, and other intangibles to craft an idea of how things stand in one single table.

Here's how each team ranks after Week 2 of the 2018 season.

1. New York City FC

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: March 17 vs. Orlando (3:30 p.m. ET)

New York City FC is rolling after a second consecutive win, dispatching the LA Galaxy at Yankee Stadium with a straightforward performance.

2. Atlanta United

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. D.C. United
• Next MLS Match: March 17 vs. Vancouver (7:30 p.m. ET)

A visit from D.C. United was just what the doctor ordered for Atlanta United, which quickly dispatched its guests by showing off to yet another record crowd.

3. Toronto FC

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 17 at Montreal (3:00 p.m. ET)

Toronto FC didn't have an MLS match on offer this past weekend, but the Reds weren't lounging around. A huge win over Tigres UANL was impressive.

4. Columbus Crew SC

• Last Week: 3-2 win vs. Montreal Impact
• Next MLS Match: March 17 at Philadelphia (2:00 p.m. ET)

There's a "team of destiny" vibe around Columbus Crew SC, fueled by Gyasi Zardes' resurgent scoring form. The question is if this form will last.

5. New York Red Bulls

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. Portland Timbers
• Next MLS Match: March 17 at Real Salt Lake (9:00 p.m. ET)

The kids are all right for the Red Bulls. Resting some starters with the Champions League in mind, Jesse Marsch's side still pulled off a huge win over Portland.

6. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo
• Next MLS Match: March 17 at Atlanta (7:30 p.m. ET)

A Kei Kamara opener and a Brek Shea winner? What year is this? The Vancouver Whitecaps have uncorked vintage performances from these two.

7. Seattle Sounders

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 18 at Dallas (5:00 p.m. ET)

A trip down to Guadalajara awaits the Seattle Sounders for a second-leg tilt on Wednesday, where the team will hope to preserve its precious 1-0 advantage.

8. Houston Dynamo

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next MLS Match: March 17 at D.C. United (1:30 p.m. ET)

The Houston Dynamo started 2018 brightly with a 4-0 win over Atlanta, only to lose one week later. Inconsistency was a problem in 2017 - has it been fixed?

9. Los Angeles FC

• Last Week: 5-1 win vs. Real Salt Lake
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at LA Galaxy (3:00 p.m. ET)

Los Angeles FC is the real deal. Intricate passing, smart movement, speed, and purpose makes the team dangerous. Diego Rossi is a pure goal-scorer.

10. Sporting Kansas City

• Last Week: 4-3 win vs. Chicago Fire
• Next MLS Match: March 17 vs. San Jose (8:30 p.m. ET)

Who will score the goals for Sporting Kansas City? If the team's latest win is anything to go by, it'll be a communal effort. Felipe Gutierrez is a treat to watch.

11. Chicago Fire

• Last Week: 4-3 loss vs. Sporting KC
• Next MLS Match: March 17 at Minnesota (2:00 p.m. ET)

Inspired by the goal-scoring instinct of Nemanja Nikolic, the Chicago Fire very nearly pulled off a come-from-behind win ... only to concede late and blow it.

12. San Jose Earthquakes

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 17 at Sporting KC (8:30 p.m. ET)

The San Jose Earthquakes didn't play this week. We're not quite sure why, but that's the MLS schedule for you.

13. LA Galaxy

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. New York City FC
• Next MLS Match: March 24 at Vancouver (10:00 p.m. ET)

The LA Galaxy will rue a missed opportunity against NYCFC, but the question this team now faces is how to get the best out of Giovani Dos Santos.

14. Philadelphia Union

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 17 vs. Columbus (2:00 p.m. ET)

The Philadelphia Union didn't participate this week, but will hope to stop a red-hot Crew SC in its tracks when they return to action next weekend.

15. New England Revolution

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next MLS Match: March 24 vs. NYCFC (1:30 p.m. ET)

If there's a sign of improvement, it's that the New England Revolution actually defeated the Rapids and didn't draw 1-1, which was the likelier result in 2017.

16. Portland Timbers

• Last Week: 4-0 loss vs. NY Red Bulls
• Next MLS Match: March 24 at Dallas (3:30 p.m. ET)

Woeful in defending and poor in finishing form, the Portland Timbers seem to need a bit more time under Giovanni Savarese before finding their feet again.

17. Minnesota United

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Orlando City
• Next MLS Match: March 17 vs. Chicago (2:00 p.m. ET)

A win, especially an early-season win over a tough opponent, is just perfect for Minnesota United. But losing Kevin Molino to an ACL tear is a catastrophe.

18. Orlando City

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Minnesota United
• Next MLS Match: March 17 at NYCFC (3:30 p.m. ET)

Mason Toye didn't draw a late penalty, which Orlando City will appreciate, but a loss to the Loons stings. These new-look Lions are still finding their roar.

19. Montreal Impact

• Last Week: 3-2 loss vs. Columbus Crew SC
• Next MLS Match: March 17 vs. Toronto (3:00 p.m. ET)

The Montreal Impact will rue the crossbar, and were hard done by with a penalty called on Raheem Edwards' trip-and-fall, but Ignacio Piatti is as sharp as ever.

20. FC Dallas

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 18 vs. Seattle (5:00 p.m. ET)

FC Dallas didn't advance into the CONCACAF Champions League final eight, so the focus will now shift to MLS play. Can this team rediscover its best form?

21. D.C. United

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Atlanta United
• Next MLS Match: March 17 vs. Houston (1:30 p.m. ET)

D.C. United fans will wonder what a partnership of Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad, and Paul Arriola would look like across that frontline - we haven't seen it yet.

22. Real Salt Lake

• Last Week: 5-1 loss vs. Los Angeles FC
• Next MLS Match: March 17 vs. NY Red Bulls (9:00 p.m. ET)

Carved apart in defense by an intricate LAFC attack, Real Salt Lake needs to go back to the video room, regroup, and find a way to work as a team once again.

23. Colorado Rapids

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. New England Revolution
• Next MLS Match: March 24 vs. Sporting KC (9:00 p.m. ET)

The Colorado Rapids blew an early chance to equalize from the penalty spot, but you have to admire their renewed resolve. Still, work is needed here.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)