This article is part of our FPL Transfer Watch series.
As the season reaches the home stretch, thanks to the wide variety of competitions these teams compete in, we get the gift of double gameweeks coming up. This upcoming week, Everton and Crystal Palace will play against each other next Wednesday, while Everton faces Watford and Palace takes on Norwich, respectively, this weekend. Other big games this week include West Ham vs. Arsenal on Saturday, as well as Liverpool against Stoke and Spurs against Manchester United on Sunday.
With players on those teams getting an extra game to pick up points this week, we'll focus on players from those two teams when it comes to those being transferred into fantasy lineups, while the transfers out focuses on players we've looked at in the past as once hot commodities.
Transfers In
Romelu Lukaku (FWD)
106,047 transfers in (first overall, highest forward)
With a double gameweek against Watford and Crystal Palace, neither of whom scream out as defensive juggernauts, it's of little surprise that Lukaku is the most transferred in player of the week. While he hasn't scored in either of the past two Premier League matches, the team hasn't scored either in a pair of tough matchups against Arsenal and Manchester United. Lukaku's 18 league goals (plus six assists) puts him in elite company behind only Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy. Lukaku scored against Palace and nabbed an assist against Watford earlier this season, and one can only hope he can continue his success against those teams this gameweek. Despite his high price tag of £9.0, he's as close to a must-add as possible.
Joel Robles (GK)
22,546 transfers in (ninth overall, second-highest goalkeeper)
Following his teammate, Robles also gets a double gameweek against Watford and Crystal Palace, both struggling to score of late. While Robles has conceded six times in his past three matches—all losses against teams in European places—Watford has scored just three times in their past eight matches while Palace is averaging just 1.1 goals per game this season. At £4.3, Robles is an excellent value play and has a chance to pick up at least one clean sheet this week.
Damien Delaney (DEF)
17,386 transfers in (11th overall, second-highest defender)
The other team with a double gameweek is Palace, who face off against Norwich over the weekend and then Everton next Wednesday. Delaney finds himself the most added Palace player after scoring a goal last match. However, the Ireland international is far from a good fantasy pickup. While for a center back, his two goals and three assists in 25 Premier League matches is strong, Norwich scored three goals last match against Newcastle and Everton averages 1.70 goals per game—nearly 0.4 goals per game higher than the league average. While Delaney might be the most appealing option at Palace, there are plenty of other defenders who are only playing one match (or those on Everton) who are better pickups.
Transfers Out
Roberto Firmino (MID)
58,662 transfers out (second overall, highest midfielder)
The big question mark for Firmino is the strength of his hamstring as Liverpool goes up against Stoke at home. Prior to sitting out the past two matches, Firmino had seven goals and four assists in the eight previous matches, with Liverpool collecting points in every match Firmino had a hand in the scoring. While many are understandably skittish, as hamstrings can be finicky injuries, if healthy, even against Stoke's tough back line, Firmino merits keeping on the squad.
Willian (MID)
38,630 transfers out (fifth overall, third-highest midfielder)
After participating in Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Wednesday, Willian was given Chelsea's last match off. With more than a week to rest and a plumb matchup at Swansea, the talented winger has no business being dropped. While he's not going to pump tons of goals in, Chelsea seems to be finding their form, and his four goals and eight assists are nothing to shake a stick at. Even if he doesn't provide the theatrics his midfield partners are capable of, if you have him, he's certainly not worth dropping, but he's also probably not worth picking up, even with this good matchup.
Dele Alli (MID)
31,414 transfers out (seventh overall, fourth-highest midfielder)
A favorite of this column's for his low price throughout the beginning of the season and flurries of production, the 19-year-old Alli has been a fantasy sensation this season. However, with a date at home against Manchester United — the team he made his Premier League debut against on opening day — Alli might not be worth picking up. However, with seven goals and nine assists on the season, and without a yellow card in the Premier League since Dec. 28, Alli certainly isn't worth dropping. Prior to last week's performance against Liverpool, he had four assists in his previous three matches, a haul that would make any fantasy owner salivate. While there might be some temptation to cash in on his now £6.2 price tag (up £1.0 since Boxing Day), hold on to him and watch your patience pay dividends.
