MLS Fantasy Rekrap Week 17: Cortado edition

It’s a busy week here at Dirty South Soccer, Atlanta United is playing two games which means 180 minutes of watching Josef Martinez round keepers, Miguel Almiron nutmeg chumps to score goals, and seeing if the defense can hold on for dear life. That said, I’m just jumping into picks this week and not rambling on incessantly and indulgently about nothing in particular.

Rekrap’s Roster

There are eight teams on double game weeks coming up and all eight have players to offer. There’s no reason to go with anyone who doesn’t have the potential to play 180 minutes in the matches coming up.

Goalkeeper: Sing with me, sing loud: HE’S ONE OF OUR OWN - HE’S ONE OF OUR OWN - HE’S ALEC KANN (ATL, $4.4) - HE’S ONE OF OUR OWN. This song needs to happen, if there’s one Atlanta player who doesn’t get the love for fans he deserves it’s Alec. Show him some and put him on your fantasy team won’t you? Atlanta is playing two teams whose offenses look like they’ve been visiting Vlad the Impaler all year. DCU has 10 goals this year - ten - one - zero and the Colorado Rapids have 14 - that’s one a game - get Alec on your squad. You get no second option.

Defenders: Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (ATL, $6.1) will face a DC United team that has so internalized Ben Olsen’s defensive minded approach to soccer that they’ve stopped trying to score goals. Seattle is playing two games this week so get Joevin Jones (SEA, $5.2) on your team, he’s cheap and can endure playing in the unceasing sadness that is the weather of the Pacific Northwest. I’m at a loss for what to do about a third defender - Orlando is on the road both games and just fell apart against Montreal, LA is leakier than a broken toilet on father’s day, Minnesota doesn’t have a defender that defends.... What I’m saying is that if he’s starting on Wednesday get Greg Garza (ATL, $5.6).

Midfielders: Miguel Almiron (ATL, $9.7) is a must own this week. Period. Where would the LA Galaxy be without Ramon Alessandrini (LAG, $10.3)? Well further outside of the playoffs, that’s for sure - you’ll be sorry if he’s off your team with two games on this week. If you need a cheap option, get Ibson (MIN, $6.7) he averages 5 points a game and is cheap. Another must own is Diego Valeri (POR, $10.7) with a #rivalryweek game against the Sounders coming up and an away match to Minnesota. While you’re getting rival week players, Nico Lodiero (SEA, $11.6) is a little inconsistent in fantasy this year but he’s still capable of putting up a big score, leave him off your team at your peril.

Forwards: We saw what Josef Martinez (ATL, $9.4) did in 23 minutes on Saturday, imagine what he’ll do in 180 this week - he won’t play that long, but imagine it (if he rounds Tim Howard I’m naming one of my children after him). Fanendo Adi (POR, $9.7), Clint Dempsey (SEA, $9.6), and Jordan Morris (SEA, 8.5) are all in the same category of disappointing or maddeningly inconsistent when it comes to strikers, just pick the one you find the least irritating. Christian Ramirez (MIN, $7.9) has cooled off a little bit, but he’s still worth having if he plays two matches. If you want a sneaky cheap pick look at Ema Boateng (LAG, $6.1), he’s cheap but he’ll be playing in place of dos Santos this week.

Rekrap’s Rejects

This isn’t hard, just don’t pick players who have bad defenses on defense, like LA, Minnesota, Orlando as of late, and whoever is playing Atlanta United. Keep away from Orlando all together, I know they got three goals last week but they’ll be on the road and just thinking about putting Kaka on your team injures his calf.