5 under the radar fantasy studs for the World Cup

Do you hate when your friends lord their fantasy sports prowess over you?

Be afraid, because the World Cup is big for the fantasy jackal in your life. The only way to beat them is to have an inside track on who to grab when selecting your squad.

Sure, names like Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar stand out, but knowing that will not set you apart from the rest. Here are five under the radar strikers that have the ability to rack up goals in Brazil.

5) Aleksandr Kokorin - Russia

Two years ago Alan Dzagoev was the breakout star of Euro 2012. Unable to parlay that success into something more at the club level, the new Russian hitman up front is Aleksandr Kokorin. The 23-year-old was on point this season for Dynamo Moscow, registering 10 goals in 23 appearances. He scored three times during Russia’s qualifying campaign. Along with Dzagoev and Oleg Shatov up front, the Russian will have his chances against poor defensive teams like South Korea and Algeria. Kokorin is a sleeper worth taking a flyer on.

4) Jozy Altidore - United States

Ah yes, Jozy ‘can't score’ Altidore. The American striker’s inability to find the back of the net for relegation bound Sunderland became a cruel joke without a punchline. Eventually Sunderland saved themselves from the drop, but Altidore wasn’t their savior. He hasn’t scored for club or country in 27 games. That streak spans back to December 4th. The goals will come however. Altidore has been lively in the tune-ups that preceded the World Cup. He’s the perfect buy low, late round option you brag to your friends about when he knocks in four in Brazil.

3) Son-Heung Min - South Korea

South Korea will go as far as Son-Heung Min can take them in Brazil, and based on the season he had for Bayern Leverkusen, that could be into the knockout stage. The 21-year-old uses his pace to place defenders in uncomfortable positions. From there, his penchant for long range strikes leaves goalkeepers helpless. Prone to scoring in bunches, Son is due for a scoring spree in Brazil.

2) Wilfried Bony - Ivory Coast

Few strikers in the Premier League had a better end to their 2013/14 campaign than Wilfried Bony. The 25-year-old recorded 16 goals in 34 appearances in his first season with Swansea, but ended the season with a flourish, scoring seven times in the Swans’ final eight games. Les Elephants’ depth chart consists of aging strikers no longer in their prime. Bony will get his shot sooner than later.

1) Josip Drmic - Switzerland

The 21-year-old was linked to a number of European giants before Bayer Leverkusen signed the Swiss star. Drmic was sensational for Nurnberg last season, recording 17 goals in 30 games. Switzerland, who play in a group that doesn’t feature any defensive mavens (France, Honduras and Ecuador), boast a talented array of forwards. Drmic is the man that will bang the goals in, and he’ll cost 1/16 the price of Lionel Messi.