This article is part of our FPL Transfer Watch series.
After back-to-back weeks that saw virtually everyone play three if not four matches, this upcoming week sees only seven matches thanks to the FA Cup. With Everton, Manchester United, Watford and Crystal Palace still in the English cup, Norwich City and West Ham will get the weekend off from Premier League action. With that caveat aside, we're going to ignore the players on the six teams who aren't playing this week, even though those players will likely occupy the upper-echelons of the most-dropped list.
This weekend lacks for marquee matchups, with Man City vs. Stoke City highlighting the rather weak slate. Despite the lack of big games, there should be plenty of goals scored from top clubs, as Leicester City takes on Swansea (albeit without Jamie Vardy), Spurs get West Brom and Arsenal travels to Sunderland. Let's take a look at three players who should be transferred in and three more that should be transferred out of fantasy Premier League lineups.
TRANSFERS IN
Graziano Pelle (FWD)
Pelle has hit a rich vein of form of late, scoring four goals and adding three assists in his past five matches. When healthy, the Italian center forward is one of the most lethal goal scorers; however, he's struggled to stay on the pitch. His 10 goals and six assists in 28 matches this season puts him just outside the top-10 in both categories. With a match against already-relegated Aston Villa, Pelle is in line for yet another big game and is certainly worth picking up if you're in need of a forward.
Daniel Sturridge (FWD)
Sturridge staying healthy is something that happens once in a blue moon. However, when he is, it's worth striking while the iron is hot. Sturridge has played in six of the past eight matches and has five goals and an assist in that span. With Divock Origi's untimely injury thanks to a pernicious challenge by Ramiro Funes Mori and Christian Benteke's continued injury problems, the goal-scoring burden will fall nearly entirely on Sturridge's shoulders. Look for the English striker to accept that responsibility with aplomb against a weak Newcastle side.
Kasper Schmeichel (GK)
With no Jamie Vardy (more on that in a bit), Leicester's best chance at securing three points against Swansea is to pack it in at the back and look to strike on the counter. Furthermore, Swansea are far from the definition of a high-octane team to begin with. Schmeichel is a strong bet for a clean sheet, having kept five in a row prior to conceding twice with 10 men last week.
TRANSFERS OUT
Jamie Vardy (FWD)
With Vardy suspended for at least this weekend's match, if you still have transfers lying around, join the more than quarter-million people who have already dropped the English target man and drop him yourself. At £7.5, it will be almost impossible to replace him with anywhere close to the same kind of quality, however, with Pelle sitting at just £8.0, he's probably your best bet to replace him.
Mesut Ozil (MID)
After starting the season so well, Ozil has suffered a noticeable dip in form of late. He has 18 assists in the Premier League this season, by far the most in the league, but he hasn't tallied one since Feb. 28. Ozil missed a couple of gilt-edged chances against West Brom on Thursday, but goal scoring has never been the German's calling card (he does have six in the Premier League though). Sunderland have been defending well and Ozil's £9.6 price tag seems to make him a good bet to drop; however, if he's already on your team, your patience should be rewarded sooner rather than later. With a number of other top teams having the week off, from Premier League play Ozil's probably worth keeping around as Arsenal seem ready to break out of their prolonged funk.
Marko Arnautovic (MID)
After missing Stoke's match against Liverpool, Arnautovic returned against Spurs, but his impact on the team was rather limited, as they seemed to run into problems at every turn. With a tough match against Manchester City in dire need of three points on Saturday, look for the Citizens to buckle down and defend. Arnautovic's 10 Premier League goals in 30 matches (to go along with five assists) makes him by far the most dangerous attacking threat for Stoke. If they can break through, look for it to be Arnautovic, but I wouldn't bet on that happening. Similarly to Ozil, because a number of other top teams have the week off, it will be tough to replace Arnautovic, particularly at his very reasonable £6.3 price tag.
