MLS Player Rankings: BWP Reclaims Top Spot, Altidore Moves Close to Top
Given the plethora of impressive in-form attackers in Major League Soccer at the moment, it takes something special each week to remain atop the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings.
A week after losing out to Giovani dos Santos for the No. 1 position, Bradley Wright-Phillips is back on top thanks to another brace for the New York Red Bulls.
Although Wright-Phillips is the top-scoring forward at the moment, there are a number of players lining up behind him, including Jozy Altidore, ready to pounce if he slips up at any point during the closing stretch of the regular season.
Our player rankings take into account the last four performances from each player, with the most recent showing carrying more weight.
Continue reading to see who fell where behind Wright-Phillips in the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings after Week 28.
On the Way out
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Seven players fell out of the top 20 after Week 28 due to some poor performances and an injury to Frank Lampard that will keep him out three to four weeks, per MLSSoccer.com.
Players Dropped out of Rankings
Frank Lampard (New York City FC; Previous Ranking: 5)
Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact; 8)
Patrick Mullins (D.C. United; 9)
Joao Plata (Real Salt Lake; 13)
Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo; 14)
Tranquillo Barnetta (Philadelphia Union; 15)
Patrick Nyarko (D.C. United; 20)
20. Jake Gleeson, GK, Portland Timbers
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Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Jake Gleeson moved into the league lead in saves on Saturday in Portland's win over Philadelphia.
The New Zealand native, who earned the starting job in net after Adam Kwarasey went down with an injury in April, has 18 denials in his last four contests, including seven in the 2-1 victory over the Union.
Gleeson is one of five goalkeepers in MLS with over 100 saves. The 26-year-old has also played less than five games than his closest competitors for the top spot on the league save chart.
Thanks to the performance of Gleeson, Portland moved ahead of Sporting Kansas City into fifth place in the Western Conference.
19. Michael Bradley, CM, Toronto FC
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Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Michael Bradley was one of many veterans who stepped into the spotlight in Week 28 as he provided a goal and an assist in Toronto's 3-3 draw with the New York Red Bulls.
The goal was the first of the season for the 29-year-old designated player who has only played 19 matches for the top team in the Eastern Conference.
Three of Bradley's four assists have come in the last seven matches for Greg Vanney's side as the Reds look to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the Eastern Conference.
As long as Bradley and the rest of the squad continue to earn points at home, the Reds should clinch home-field advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs and contend for the Supporters' Shield.
18. Tim Howard, GK, Colorado Rapids
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Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Tim Howard has quietly put together a solid string of performances for the Colorado Rapids.
The Rapids haven't been in the national spotlight much, but they are still hanging around in third place in the Western Conference.
The United States international recorded his third clean sheet in four matches on Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park against San Jose.
Since joining the Rapids, Howard has held opponents scoreless on six occasions in 11 starts.
17. Osvaldo Alonso, CM, Seattle Sounders
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Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Just like it has in previous seasons, the spotlight is nowhere close to shining on Osvaldo Alonso in the Seattle starting XI.
Despite the lack of attention from elsewhere, the 30-year-old midfielder is rounding into impressive form as the Sounders chase the final playoff position in the Western Conference.
In Saturday's 1-0 win over Vancouver at CenturyLink Field, Alonso made seven tackles, three key passes and completed 83.8 percent of his 74 passes.
Alonso has completed 90.8 percent of his average 71 passes through 27 matches, and he's averaging 3.7 tackles per game.
16. Kelyn Rowe, AM, New England Revolution
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Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Kelyn Rowe became the latest New England Revolution player to benefit from Jay Heaps' tactical switches on Saturday as he contributed two goals and one assist in the club's 3-1 win over Montreal.
The 24-year-old's performance came after he provided an assist in each of the two games prior to the clash at Stade Saputo.
Thanks to the changes brought upon by Heaps that has gotten the best out of all his attacking players, the Revolution are now above the red line in the Eastern Conference standings.
New England are the only team in the league to win all of their matches in September to date.
15. Kaka, AM, Orlando City
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Previous Ranking: 7
Kaka was one of many Orlando City players to experience a frustrating night on home soil against the Columbus Crew.
The Brazilian mastermind was able to find a few gaps in the Crew defense as he fired three of his six shots on target, but he couldn't beat Steve Clark in the 4-1 defeat at Camping World Stadium.
The loss was especially disappointing in terms of the Eastern Conference playoff race for the Lions since New England and D.C. United picked up points on their travels in Week 28.
Jason Kreis' men face a must-win situation in Week 29 as they visit RFK Stadium to take on D.C. as the race for sixth in the Eastern Conference heats up.
14. Cyle Larin, FW, Orlando City
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Previous Ranking: 18
One of the few positives over 90 minutes for Orlando on Saturday was the goal off the boot of Cyle Larin.
The strike was the 14th of the season for the 21-year-old Canadian, but it wasn't enough to help the Lions pick up an important three points at home.
With the playoff race getting tighter each week, Larin must be able to produce in front of goal, especially with New England firing on all cylinders in the final third.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft is three goals away from his rookie season total of 17.
13. Michael De Leeuw, FW, Chicago Fire
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Previous Ranking: 10
Michael de Leeuw did not feature in the Chicago Fire's 2-2 draw with D.C. United on Friday night due to an ankle injury, per the club's official Twitter account.
The Dutch forward entered Week 28 with a goal in each of his last three contests.
The 29-year-old and his teammates will once again look to play the role of spoiler in the Eastern Conference playoff race on Friday as they take on New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.
12. Ola Kamara, FW, Columbus Crew
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Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Ola Kamara has worked his way back up the Golden Boot standings over the last two weeks with three goals for the Crew, including a brace on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Norwegian forward burst on to the scene during the middle of the season as he replaced Kei Kamara as the top scorer in the Columbus lineup.
Thanks to his trio of strikes against Vancouver and Orlando, Kamara's regular-season goal total is 13.
In two matches against his former teammate Kamara and the Revs this season, the Crew forward has a goal and an assist.
11. Fanendo Adi, FW, Portland Timbers
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Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Four of the last nine goals scored by the Portland Timbers have come from Fanendo Adi.
The Nigerian forward extended his scoring form into Saturday as he netted the game-winner in the 2-1 victory over the Union at Providence Park. Adi's 53rd-minute winner was his 15th goal of the regular season.
Despite not receiving as much attention as the players further up in the Golden Boot standings, Adi's role in the squad is as important as players like Bradley Wright-Phillips and Jozy Altidore.
Adi will be looking to score against the Houston Dynamo in Week 29 in order to hand the Timbers another boost in the Western Conference standings.
10. Jordan Morris, FW, Seattle Sounders
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Previous Ranking: 19
Jordan Morris netted the first of two game-winners in Cascadia on Saturday as he headed home Nicolas Lodeiro's cross from the right wing in the 81st minute against Vancouver.
The strike moved the 21-year-old into double digits in the scoring column, and it boosted Seattle's playoff hopes as they chase Sporting KC and Portland without Clint Dempsey for the time being.
Morris also received a boost in the Rookie of the Year competition since his closest challenger, Keegan Rosenberry of the Philadelphia Union, was torched in Portland by Darren Mattocks a few hours after Morris made his key contribution.
9. Ethan Finlay, RM, Columbus Crew
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Previous Ranking: 17
Ethan Finlay's chances of recording over 10 goals and assists grew in Week 28 thanks to his brilliant performance in the final third for the Crew.
The 26-year-old American winger produced a goal and two assists in the surprising 4-1 win over Orlando by Gregg Berhalter's men.
Finlay has six goals and eight assists overall in 2016. He has recorded five goals and two assists since August 13, when he broke out for a brace against NYCFC.
If the Crew want to have any chance of making a late surge into the playoff conversation, they have to beat New England at home on Sunday.
8. Jelle Van Damme, CB, LA Galaxy
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Previous Ranking: 16
Jelle Van Damme continued to assert himself as the favorite to win MLS Defender of the Year on Sunday despite the concession of two goals.
The 32-year-old, who flexed his offensive muscle a week ago, helped the Galaxy weather the storm against Sporting Kansas City as they limited the home side at Children's Mercy Park to three attempts on target.
Van Damme totaled seven interceptions, five clearances and three blocked shots in the 2-2 draw.
If the Galaxy are serious about contending for the top spot in the Western Conference and the Supporters' Shield, they'll need to pick up three points on Sunday in the marquee fixture against the Sounders.
7. Juan Agudelo, FW, New England Revolution
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Previous Ranking: 11
Juan Agudelo continued to be a part of the Revolution resurgence in Week 28 as he provided an assist in the two-goal win over Montreal.
The assist marked the third consecutive match in which the 23-year-old contributed to at least one New England tally.
It's hard to believe that Agudelo is just 23 since he's been around for so long. The player who once was the next best young starlet in the USMNT system has a chance to play his way back into the national-team picture if the Revolution continue their climb up the Eastern Conference standings.
6. Dom Dwyer, FW, Sporting Kansas City
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Previous Ranking: 12
Dom Dwyer thrived once again on a personal level for Sporting KC in Week 28, but he left the pitch with an unfavorable result on the scoreboard for the second straight week.
Dwyer put Peter Vermes' men ahead in the second half against the Galaxy, but a late Landon Donovan tally forced Sporting to settle for another draw in front of their home fans.
The draw caused some concern about the club's position in the Western Conference playoff race as they dropped down to sixth following the tie and Portland's win.
Sporting have a five-point lead over the Sounders with four matches left, but the Sounders still have two games in hand on their direct rival for the postseason.
5. Sacha Kljestan, CM, New York Red Bulls
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Previous Ranking: 6
A week after failing to score despite a flurry of pressure on goal, Sacha Kljestan picked up his first assist since August 21 in the 3-3 draw between the Red Bulls and Toronto.
The 31-year-old midfielder currently holds an advantage of three atop the league assist chart. With the injured Sebastian Giovinco second on the list, Kljestan appears to have that title locked up as long as no one makes a sudden surge in the final month of the regular season.
Despite dropping a two-goal lead at BMO Field, the Red Bulls are still in good shape in the Eastern Conference as they sit two points behind Toronto with a home match against Montreal upcoming on Saturday.
4. Giovani Dos Santos, FW, LA Galaxy
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Previous Ranking: 1
Giovani dos Santos missed out on the Galaxy's clash with Sporting KC due to hip flexor tightness, per LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano.
The Mexico international entered Week 28 with five goals and three assists in his last three matches.
In any other season, Dos Santos may have had a chance of holding on to the No. 1 position because of his recent performances, but there are a few forwards in blistering form who leaped over him this week.
The 27-year-old will look to get back on the pitch for Sunday's star-studded affair with Seattle at StubHub Center.
3. Nicolas Lodeiro, CM, Seattle Sounders
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Previous Ranking: 3
Nicolas Lodeiro extended his streak of contributing to at least one goal to seven matches in Seattle's 1-0 win over Vancouver on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan provided Jordan Morris with a game-winning assist from the right wing at CenturyLink Field to keep spirits high in Seattle with the postseason looming.
Lodeiro has played a role in each of the last five tallies netted by the Sounders, and he's contributed to 10 of the club's 14 strikes since his arrival on the pitch in rave green.
The lone game in which he didn't produce a goal or assist came on July 31 against the Galaxy. He'll have another chance to impress against Bruce Arena's side on Sunday.
2. Jozy Altidore, FW, Toronto FC
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Previous Ranking: 4
Jozy Altdore bagged the fourth brace of his Toronto FC career—and his first of 2016—in the come-from-behind draw against the Red Bulls.
The two-goal performance in the second half at BMO Field allowed the Reds to keep the Eastern Conference playoff race in their control.
Altidore's production may increase over the next few weeks as Giovinco prepares to return from his injury absence.
If the dynamic duo in the Toronto attack jell right away, it would be hard to not consider the Reds as the favorites for the MLS Cup.
1. Bradley Wright-Phillips, FW, New York Red Bulls
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Previous Ranking: 2
Bradley Wright-Phillips became the first player to hit 20 goals in 2016 with his brace against Toronto on Sunday.
The two-goal showing marked the sixth time this season in which Wright-Phillips has found the back of the net on multiple occasions.
Three of those multiple goal outings have come during his tremendous spell of form that began with a pair of tallies against NYCFC on July 24.
Wright-Phillips also made history on Sunday as he became the first player in league history to score 20 goals in two different seasons.
Joe Tansey covers MLS for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All statistics obtained from MLSSoccer.com and WhoScored.com.
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