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Franco Negri crashes, James Sands surges back: MLS PAL week spotlight
Franco Negri takes the steepest drop of the week while James Sands delivers a major jump: here’s what stood out in this MLS PAL week.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
The PAL is a 0-to-100 score ranking an MLS player against regulars at his position for the current season, and its weekly movement shows whether his latest games were above or below his recent level. Early in the season or with smaller samples, those swings can look dramatic in both directions. This week, a Houston Dynamo FC fullback takes a major hit while a New York City FC center back works his way back up the pack.
Rising
James Sands makes a big move up for New York City FC, with his PAL jumping from 39 to 70 after 203 minutes without a goal or assist. Even without showing up on the scoresheet this week, his workload builds on a season of 1468 minutes, 1 goal and 7 shots, pushing him higher among MLS center backs.
Andrés Herrera climbs out of the cellar for Columbus Crew, with his PAL rising from 16 to 46 on just 106 minutes and no direct offensive return. That steady week adds to a campaign where the fullback has logged 1197 minutes, 1 assist and 14 shots, helping him close the gap with his positional peers.
Gabriel Pirani capitalizes on a highly productive week for San Diego FC to boost his PAL from 12 to 41. In 123 minutes, the midfielder scored 2 goals on 5 shots, nearly half of his season total of 4 goals and 22 shots in 1206 minutes, which significantly upgrades how he stacks up at his position.
Julián Aude strengthens his standing with LA Galaxy, seeing his PAL rise from 49 to 74 over 102 minutes without a goal or assist. In a fullback role defined more by stability than raw attacking numbers (1264 minutes and just 1 shot this year), that continued trust lifts him into the upper tier of his positional group.
Mohamed Farsi keeps trending upward for Columbus Crew, with his PAL moving from 35 to 58. Across 102 minutes, the fullback adds 1 assist and 2 shots to a strong season line of 1362 minutes, 2 goals, 4 assists and 9 shots, nudging him toward the league’s more impactful wide defenders.
Falling
Franco Negri takes the week’s biggest hit at Houston Dynamo FC, his PAL plunging from 87 to 25 despite 212 minutes at fullback. With no goals, no assists and just 1 shot over that stretch, it’s a clear slowdown compared with a previously efficient season of 1114 minutes, 1 goal and 9 shots.
Jansen Miller slides sharply for Sporting Kansas City, as his PAL drops from 57 to 23 after 199 scoreless, assist-free minutes. The center back remains a regular with 1203 minutes this season, but this low-event week pulls him down toward the bottom half of his positional group.
Nolan Norris also slips among center backs, his PAL falling from 72 to 41 after 107 minutes without a goal or assist for FC Dallas. Even with a heavy-season workload of 2013 minutes, 1 goal and 7 shots, this quieter stretch drags him back closer to the positional average.
Philip Quinton sees his PAL drop from 55 to 31 with Real Salt Lake despite logging 197 minutes. With no goals or assists and just 1 shot this week, his profile as a steady but low-production regular (2187 minutes, 1 assist, 4 shots) is temporarily pushed down among MLS center backs.
CJ dos Santos moves the wrong way for San Diego FC, his PAL dipping from 32 to 13 after 105 difficult minutes in which he allowed 3 goals without making a save. That stands in contrast to the rest of his season, where the goalkeeper has totaled 1412 minutes, 50 saves and 24 goals allowed, and it knocks him down the current MLS keeper pecking order.