NFL
By Keith Richards
It’s the final countdown! On Sunday, February 22nd, the Colorado Rapids open their 2026 MLS season. It will be the beginning of the Matt Wells Era. After two seasons that ended poorly, one of which saw them miss the playoffs, Colorado is seeking another fresh start. Team President Padraig Smith and KSE President of Team & Media Operations Kevin Demoff have high expectations for the Matt Wells Era.
Matt Wells comes to the Rapids from Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League. Colorado’s front office is taking a big gamble on the young manager. Given the fanbase’s general discontent, the Matt Wells Era must start with a successful season. In addition, to our knowledge, Padraig Smith is in the final year of his contract. Consequently, there’s arguably no one hoping for a great season more than him.
I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Matt a few times remotely. However, no one has seen what the club looks like on the pitch outside of a few preseason highlights. So, there’s one big question everyone has. How will the Colorado Rapids look in the Matt Wells Era? It will be tough, but I’m going to try my best to predict their season. First, I’ll try to predict the formation. Next, I’ll review each position group. Finally, I’ll give my prediction. So, let’s dive in!
The Formation
Coach Wells has been mum regarding his Starting XI. In addition, he’s been quiet about what the shape of the club will be. They will dominate possession and always be pressing. That’s all that he let us in on. During the last availability, I asked Wells if he had any idea who he thought the Starting XI might be.
Wells stated, “No, no. What I’ve got a feel good on is that we’re shaping into the team we want to become. I think I was frustrated about loads of things in the last game. One thing I was absolutely delighted with was the overall, the broader shape of the identity and the team that we were.” Matt would conclude, “I’ve not really got an interest on trying to nail down a Starting XI because it’s going to change week-to-week through the players’ competition on training.”
So, I tried to dig through the pressers we’ve had with Coach Wells, analyzed the coverage of someone present at the last preseason match in Orlando, and looked for patterns in the lineups they’ve shown us. I believe the Matt Wells Era starts with a 4-2-3-1, which means I will likely be wrong. However, this is what I’m rolling with.
Your center forward will be Rafael Navarro. In the attacking midfield, you have Darren Yapi (left wing), Paxten Aaronson (CAM), and Dante Sealy (right wing). Hamzat Ojediran (destroyer) and Josh Atencio (assistant regional destroyer) will serve as the defensive midfield. The backline will consist of Jackson Travis (left back), Rob Holding (LCB), Noah Cobb (RCB), and Reggie Cannon (resident scholar and right back). Then, of course, Big Zack Steffen is your keeper. Now, let’s look at each position group and see how I came to this conclusion.
Forwards – Dante Sealy, Rafael Navarro, Bryce Jamison, Kimani Stewart-Baynes, Sydney Wathuta, Darren Yapi, Donovan Phillip
First, I need to note one thing. I’m still not sold that Rafael Navarro makes it past the Winter Transfer Window. Though there has been radio silence on any new rumors, the Brazilian striker could net the team a lot of money to help shore up the roster. However, as I said, we haven’t heard anything. So, for now, we will move forward on the assumption that he will be here. Now, a no-brainer at the right wing is Dante Sealy. The team spent a lot of money on him, and Matt Wells always sings his praises. I believe 2025 was his breakout season, and he will continue to improve in 2026.
The left wing is more difficult to predict. Alexis Manyoma and Ted Ku-DiPietro are more natural at the position. However, Darren Yapi has continued to improve so much that it’s hard to keep him off the pitch. If Wells is going with a single high striker, Yapi is more than capable on the wing. His relationship with Navarro is vital to a successful attack. In addition, from what I can tell, his vision and passing have come a long way this offseason.
Do I expect he’s a 30-plus game starter on the left wing? No, but I believe he will start a significant number of matches there. As Matt said, the Starting XI can change from week to week. There will be matches where Ku or Manyoma beat him out in training, but Yapi will be a factor on the left wing this season. On the right wing, it’s Sealy’s spot to lose, but Stewart-Baynes, Jamison, and Wathuta will be in a dog fight for second position behind him. My bet is on Syd the Kid.
Midfielders – Hamzat Ojediran, Paxten Aaronson, Alexis Manyoma, Josh Atencio, Wayne Frederick, Ali Fadal, Alex Harris, Connor Ronan, Ted Ku-Dipietro
In the attacking midfield, the player the Matt Wells Era needs to perform the most is Paxten Aaronson. Aaronson was brought in to replace Djordje Mihailovic. Therefore, Padraig Smith and the front office spent a lot of money on Paxten. I don’t necessarily want to call last season a wash for him, but it’s unfair to judge the 10 strictly from that. The team was in shambles. He came in not fully fit because it was his preseason, and it was just bad timing.
However, Paxten Aaronson has completed a full preseason with the club. Consequently, Aaronson knows exactly what is expected of him. If the highlights of the last preseason match are any indication, Paxten is ready to go and will have an outstanding season. I expect Ronan and Wathuta to serve as backups to Aaronson. Both are capable and offer something different if needed.
The defensive midfield shows a lot of promise with the addition of Hamzat Ojediran. Sorry, let me correct myself. Hamzat “Destroyer of Attacks” Ojediran. In his first media availability, Ojediran stated that he likes to be the destroyer. The Nigerian defensive midfielder believes goals and assists are a plus, but his job is to protect the team and keep them balanced. In that availability, Hamzat stated, “We have to be in the game. There’s no time to switch off.” The Destroyer will look to do that with the assistance of Josh Atencio.
I expect that Ojediran will press the attack a little more, but Josh Atencio, with his height and stature, should provide better protection for the backline this season. Atencio had a difficult season in 2025. Part of that was due to injury. The other part was Chris Armas’ carousel of formations. I think we will see a better Atencio this season. It appears that the Wells system allows Josh to play more naturally. I’m looking forward to it!
Defenders – Keegan Rosenberry, Sam Vines, Reggie Cannon, Rob Holding, Ian Murphy, Lucas Herrington, Noah Cobb, Jackson Travis
The biggest enigma and concern for the Rapids is the backline. Between the center backs and full backs, I think the bigger concern is the full backs. I’m conflicted at right back. I know what the advanced stats say about Reggie Cannon. If you haven’t seen them, they’re not good. However, I can also see the passion that Cannon brings to the club – that dawg, if you will. For as much as was made of Cole Bassett playing out of position in 2025, I feel the same for Reggie.
Not that I believe Reggie was asked to play out of position. It’s more like he was asked to provide more to the attack than he was used to. I do believe Cannon improved as the season went on, but it’s not what he’s best at. Unfortunately, Rosenberry is aging. So, he’s not the answer. If Cannon is asked to focus more on locking wingers down, he will have a much better season.
Now, there is left back. The two natural left backs on the roster right now are Jackson Travis and Sam Vines. Neither is All-MLS. However, I went with Travis as the starter…for now. I think Jackson is better defensively than Sam and will not be asked to drive the attack as much. If driving the attack and participating heavily in the final third was the ask, Vines is the guy. Since I don’t believe that will be the case, Travis is the better defensive option and gets the nod. The absolute best option is outside hire, which they have some cash to make that happen.
What makes the center backs interesting is the combination of experience and youth. Rob Holding and Ian Murphy, though not old, both have extensive starting experience. Holding has experience starting at the highest levels in Europe. Assuming a back four, Holding is a lock at one of the starting center backs. Who’s the second center back? That’s a tougher question to answer.
The other options at center back are Ian Murphy, Noah Cobb, and Lucas Herrington. Of those three, I think that Herrington shows the most promise. That’s not a knock on Cobb and Murphy. Herrington just has a special feeling about him. However, I think it’s Cobb that wins the position…for now. He has the edge on Lucas in experience and just seems to be a better fit than Ian. Still, Noah’s spot is not safe. Murphy and Herrington will be breathing down his neck.
Goalkeepers – Zack Steffen, Nico Hansen, Adam Beaudry (on loan)
There’s not much to analyze here. Zack Steffen is the starter. Nico Hansen placed a stranglehold on the backup spot last season. When Steffen went down with an injury, Hansen was fantastic when he was asked to step up. Beaudry still shows a lot of promise, which is why he is out on loan. He will have the opportunity to continue growing, which is what Adam needs most right now.
Zack Steffen will be sure to be hungry this season. Steffen started 2025 great, but was derailed after an injury. That injury not only affected his MLS season but also his chances to impress Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT coaches. Zack Steffen was at the top of the list for many as the starter heading into the World Cup. That guy is now Matt Freese. Not only will Steffen look to be the best he can be for the Rapids, but USMNT, though a long shot, is not an impossibility.
Season Prediction
So, how will the Matt Wells Era’s first season end? While there are positions where I think they still need to improve, there are also positions where I think they did improve. Hamzat Ojediran and Dante Sealy were big additions to the team. The winger depth is promising. Though there are a few players that need to hit because of their cost, I think that they will. Is it a championship team? Absolutely not. Is it a better team than the 2025 team?
Yes, I think it is better than the 2025 team. In 2025, Colorado finished 11th. In 2026, Colorado will finish 9th, which technically will make them a playoff team. I think Matt Wells fills some holes that Chris Armas left open and will find four to six more points to push them over that edge.
At the World Cup break, I will revisit my prediction. I will either keep it the same, improve their final standing, or reduce it. For now, I’m cautiously optimistic.
