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Brandon's DraftKings and FanDuel EPL DFS lineup picks for English Premier League Soccer on 10/18/25 (Matchweek 8). His top daily fantasy soccer forwards, midfielders, defenders, goalkeepers.
Welcome back to "The Kick-Off," and welcome to the 2025-2026 season! Domestic play has finally returned after another long run of International play! With International play, domestic play, and Champions League play all in a span of one week, there is potential for heavy rotation! Let's knock out Matchweek Eight!
The top favorite for this week is Manchester City FC (-260) vs. Everton FC (+650). I will guide you through this five-match slate starting at 10:00 A.M. EST on Saturday, October 18.
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else, don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected], via X @df_solutions, or in our Discord chat rooms.
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EPL DFS Goalies
Jordan Pickford - DK $3.8K || FD $7
Opponent - at Manchester City FC
Rostering goalies against English Premier League giants, Manchester City, is never a fun time; however, Jordan Pickford does make a case. In the seven domestic fixtures that Everton has played thus far, they are the fourth-worst club in Shots Against Per 90, and they are the eighth-best club in Goals Against Per 90. They also sneak into the top ten in Penalty Area Defense.
Things start to get even riskier when you look at Manchester City’s metrics to start the season. From a Per 90 viewpoint, they are the best in Goals, Big Chances Created, and In-the-Box Goals. They are also the second-best in Big Chances Scored and the sixth-best in both Shots and Chances Created. Metrics aside, look at the clubs they dominated. They thrashed Wolverhampton and Burnley FC. Otherwise, they have been close fixtures. In Pickford’s last five domestic fixtures, he has made 11 saves, conceded six goals, and recorded one clean sheet. At his salary and the raw value of shots saved, he could very well produce the highest score amongst goalies on the slate.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Dean Henderson (DK $5.1K || FD $12) vs. AFC Bournemouth
- Robin Roefs (DK $4.9K || FD $11) vs. Wolverhampton
EPL DFS Forwards
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - DK $4.6K || FD $18
Opponent - at Burnley FC
Managers cannot find a better raw, uncapped ceiling value on the slate. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has taken over the role of the starting striker for Leeds United. In five appearances–four starts–he has produced one goal, nine shots, six chances created, two tackles, one interception, and two clearances. The numbers are less than stellar, and that's expected when playing for an offensively weak club. However, it is not his form that is getting featured; it is his matchup.
Burnley FC might as well call it early and take the relegation. Despite their frisky offense, their defense cannot keep pace with the league. From a Per 90 against viewpoint, the Clarets are the worst in Shots, Chances Created, and In-the-Box Shots. They are the second-worst in In-the-Box Goals and Penalty Area Defense, the third-worst in Goals, and the sixth-worst in Big Chances Created. They also concede the most crosses by a wide margin. Considering Calvert-Lewin’s salary, is there a universe where he doesn’t reach value?
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Erling Haaland (DK $11K || FD $24) vs. Everton FC
- Chemsdine Talbi (DK $4.1K || FD $11) vs. Wolverhampton
EPL DFS Midfielders
Sean Longstaff - DK $4.4K || FD $20
Opponent - at Burnley FC
Following in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s footsteps, we have teammate and midfielder Sean Longstaff. Longstaff has taken over set piece duties for the Peacocks and has reinvigorated their attack while doing so. In his most recent five domestic fixtures, he has recorded one goal, one assist, eight shots, 13 chances created, 17 crosses, 11 corners, 23 tackles, three interceptions, five clearances, and two blocks. What hasn’t he done at this stage of the season?
As mentioned above, Burnley FC is currently performing at the Championship level or worse so far this season. They have not been able to stabilize their defense, and they lost their star goalie, James Trafford, to Manchester City during the offseason. At Longstaff’s salary, he is expected to sprint past value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Antoine Semenyo (DK $10.2K || FD $23) at Crystal Palace
- Phil Foden (DK $7.7K || FD $18) vs. Everton FC
EPL DFS Defenders
Defenders
Trai Hume - DK $5.8K || FD $12
Opponent - vs. Wolverhampton
Trai Hume rounds out the article for Matchweek Eight. The fullback has produced three shots, three chances created, 16 crosses, eight corners, 11 tackles, seven interceptions, 20 clearances, and one block over his last five domestic appearances. His floor is starting to shrink with teammate Granit Xhaka (DK $6.6K || FD $19), also getting a share of the set pieces. However, Hume has open-play value to make up for it.
Wolverhampton has the second-worst defense on the slate. They are the second-worst in Goals Against Per 90, third-worst in In-the-Box Goals Against Per 90, fourth-worst in Penalty Area Defense, and they are in the bottom ten in Shots Against Per 90, Chances Created Against Per 90, and Big Chances Created Against Per 90. All it takes is one lucky cross from Hume, and all of a sudden, he explodes past value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Quilindschy Hartman (DK $5K || FD $13) vs. Leeds United
- Jayden Bogle (DK $4.4K || FD $10) at Burnley FC
What a way to score your first international goal 👏 @hume_trai 💚🤍 #GAWA pic.twitter.com/2YIziO1VG3
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) October 11, 2025
Corner Takers
- Brighton & Hove Albion: Yasin Ayari/Maxim De Cuyper/Brajan Gruda
- Newcastle United: Sandro Tonali/Kieran Trippier
- Burnley FC: Quilindschy Hartman/Jaidon Anthony
- Leeds United: Sean Longstaff
- Crystal Palace: Adam Wharton/Daichi Kamada
- AFC Bournemouth: Alex Scott/David Brooks
- Manchester City FC: Phil Foden
- Everton FC: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
- Sunderland AFC: Granit Xhaka/Trai Hume
- Wolverhampton: Jhon Arias/Jean-Ricner Bellegarde
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
