MLS Power Rankings, Week 8: Dallas soars up the table as Toronto drops

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 8:

1. Atlanta United ▲

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: April 28 vs. Montreal (1:00 p.m. ET)

Off the back of a statement 2-0 win over the Galaxy, Atlanta United is deservedly the new leader here - Tata Martino's attack, in particular, is scary.

2. New York City FC ▼

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Portland Timbers
• Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. FC Dallas (6:30 p.m. ET)

New York City FC finally tasted defeat in 2018, quite resoundingly so, and concedes the top spot in our Power Rankings for the first time this season.

3. Sporting Kansas City (–)

• Last Week: 6-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next MLS Match: April 28 at New England (7:30 p.m. ET)

Sure, having a two-man advantage helps when crafting a 6-0 win, but Sporting KC will be pleased with the victory regardless of the circumstances.

4. Los Angeles FC ▲

• Last Week: 5-3 win vs. Montreal Impact
• Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. Seattle (9:00 p.m. ET)

Winning four and losing two on a six-match road trip is astounding - doubly so for newcomer Los Angeles FC, which hosts Seattle on its homecoming day.

5. New York Red Bulls (–)

• Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Chicago Fire
• Next MLS Match: April 28 at LA Galaxy (10:30 p.m. ET)

The Red Bulls have now lost as many games as they've won, though juggling the CONCACAF Champions League with MLS action will do that to a team.

6. Orlando City ▲

• Last Week: 3-2 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes
• Next MLS Match: April 29 at Colorado (4:00 p.m. ET)

Orlando City picks up a fourth win in a row courtesy of another 3-2 scoreline, though this one was less assured as San Jose nearly clawed its way back.

7. FC Dallas ▲

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Philadelphia Union
• Next MLS Match: April 29 at NYCFC (6:30 p.m. ET)

Still undefeated in MLS and having conceded just three goals in six games, FC Dallas is looking like its formidable self once again. Up they rise, as such.

8. LA Galaxy ▼

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. Atlanta United
• Next MLS Match: April 28 vs. NY Red Bulls (10:30 p.m. ET)

The LA Galaxy are still trying to piece together what should be a competitive side, and will hope these growing pains soon pave the way to success.

9. Houston Dynamo (–)

• Last Week: 5-1 win vs. Toronto FC
• Next MLS Match: April 28 at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET)

The Houston Dynamo, now 2-2-2 at the top of 2018, will use a 5-1 win over TFC as an exercise in confidence-building ... even if it was against a B-team.

10. Columbus Crew SC (–)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. New England Revolution
• Next MLS Match: April 28 vs. San Jose (7:30 p.m. ET)

Though a bit fortuitous with an own goal, Crew SC got a point, which snapped a three-match losing streak. Is it ideal? No, but it works ... for now.

11. Chicago Fire ▲

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. New York Red Bulls
• Next MLS Match: April 28 at Toronto (3:00 p.m. ET)

A win's a win, and the Chicago Fire will take a victory over the Red Bulls any day, even if it came from a Nemanja Nikolic penalty this time.

12. Toronto FC ▼

• Last Week: 5-1 loss vs. Houston Dynamo
• Next MLS Match: April 28 vs. Chicago (3:00 p.m. ET)

Perhaps last-placed Toronto FC deserves to sit at the bottom of our rankings, but for now, mid-table's fine. With the team focusing solely on the CONCACAF Champions League final, the Reds' real season begins after Wednesday.

13. New England Revolution (–)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Columbus Crew SC
• Next MLS Match: April 28 vs. Sporting KC (7:30 p.m. ET)

Coming off the back of a loss to Dallas, the New England Revolution couldn't muster enough to overcome Columbus. They'll take a point, though.

14. Vancouver Whitecaps ▼

• Last Week: 6-0 loss vs. Sporting Kansas City
• Next MLS Match: April 27 vs. Real Salt Lake (10:30 p.m. ET)

So, that was ugly. The Vancouver Whitecaps suffered a 6-0 loss due to a pair of reds reducing them to nine men, a misstep they'll hope to avoid in future.

15. San Jose Earthquakes ▼

• Last Week: 3-2 loss vs. Orlando City
• Next MLS Match: April 28 at Columbus (7:30 p.m. ET)

New San Jose Earthquakes striker Magnus Eriksson scored yet again this week, showing signs that there's more to this team than Chris Wondolowski.

16. Portland Timbers ▲

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. New York City FC
• Next MLS Match: April 22 vs. NYCFC (6 p.m. ET)

Back-to-back wins? That's more like it for the Portland Timbers, who picked up a huge victory against league-leading NYCFC and now look set for a resurgence.

17. Seattle Sounders ▲

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Minnesota United
• Next MLS Match: April 29 at LAFC (9:00 p.m. ET)

A win, at last, for the Seattle Sounders, who bossed the Loons with little fuss to pick up all three points. Now, a rematch with LAFC awaits.

18. Montreal Impact ▼

• Last Week: 5-3 loss vs. Los Angeles FC
• Next MLS Match: April 28 at Atlanta (1:00 p.m. ET)

Signs of promise have quickly turned into the prospect of a better tomorrow for the Montreal Impact, who have now emphatically lost three matches in a row.

19. Real Salt Lake ▲

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next MLS Match: April 27 at Vancouver (10:30 p.m. ET)

A big win over a rival is just what Real Salt Lake needed. Now, RSL takes on the Whitecaps once more, having already beaten them 2-1 at the top of April.

20. Philadelphia Union ▼

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. FC Dallas
• Next MLS Match: April 28 vs. D.C. United (3:30 p.m. ET)

The Philadelphia Union are winless in five after losing to Dallas, but will hope a visit from D.C. United can provide a springboard for a renewed effort in 2018.

21. Minnesota United ▼

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Seattle Sounders
• Next MLS Match: April 28 vs. Houston (8:00 p.m. ET)

Four losses in a row tell the story of a Minnesota United side that just isn't cutting it in MLS. Things are looking dire.

22. Colorado Rapids (–)

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Real Salt Lake
• Next MLS Match: April 29 vs. Orlando (4:00 p.m. ET)

Any confidence or form that the Colorado Rapids had coming off a win over a short-handed Toronto FC was eradicated this week with a loss to RSL. Ouch.

23. D.C. United (–)

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: April 28 at Philadelphia (3:30 p.m. ET)

D.C. United had a bye this week. How many days left until a home debut at Audi Field? Eighty-two. You're welcome!

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)