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Brandon's DraftKings and FanDuel EPL DFS lineup picks for English Premier League Soccer on 1/17/26 (Matchweek 22). His top daily fantasy soccer forwards, midfielders, defenders, goalkeepers.
Welcome back to "The Kick-Off," and welcome to the 2025-2026 season! The holidays are over, and we are still in the thick of fixture congestion, with the FA Cup over the last week. Expect plenty of rotation given the lack of rest between this last weekend's fixtures and the midweek fixtures. Let's kick off Matchweek 22!!
The top favorite for this week is Liverpool FC (-475) vs. Burnley FC (+1200). I will guide you through this six-match slate starting at 10:00 A.M. EST on Saturday, January 17.
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
Robin Roefs - DK $4.7K || FD $10
Opponent - vs. Crystal Palace
Robin Roefs and Sunderland AFC are still outperforming expectations defensively. On the slate, they are tied with Liverpool FC for the least amount of goals conceded over each club’s last five home domestic matches, with five goals. In that timeframe, Sunderland is bottom-three in Shots Against Per 90, Chances Created Against Per 90, and Big Chances Created Against Per 90. They are also a top-ten club in Goals Against Per 90.
Crystal Palace is struggling offensively in their last five domestic matches. They are a bottom-five club in every metric, excluding In-the-Box Shots Per 90. As long as Roefs can make the saves needed, he will maintain and exceed value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Alisson Becker (DK $6K || FD $14) vs. Burnley FC
- Caoimhín Kelleher (DK $4K || FD $9) at Chelsea FC
EPL DFS Forwards
Mathys Tel - DK $7.8K || FD $16
Opponent - vs. West Ham United
The Mathys Tel stock watch is on. The young forward has produced one goal, seven shots, eight chances created, 25 crosses, 13 corners, four tackles, and three clearances in his last five fixtures–three starts–in all competitions. He has also started eating into the Spurs' set pieces.
Tel is expected to continue his newfound form in the home matchup against Burnley FC. The visitors in a Per 90 Against perspective are bottom-five in every meaningful metric. They have also conceded the most goals against over the last five domestic fixtures across all clubs on the slate, with 11. Considering Tel’s salary, role, and form, he is projected to soar past his value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Hugo Ekitiké (DK $9.4K || FD $22) vs. Burnley FC
- Pedro Neto (DK $8.6K || FD $17) vs. Brentford FC
EPL DFS Midfielders
Harry Wilson - DK $8.8K || FD $20
Opponent - at Leeds United
Harry Wilson is back and ready for another go in the article after not disappointing in the 2-1 win over Chelsea FC over a week ago. In that match, he produced one goal, eight shots, one chance created, one cross, one corner, one tackle, and one interception. He now has three goals, two assists, 17 shots, seven chances created, 13 crosses, six corners, two tackles, one interception, and 10 clearances throughout his last five fixtures–four starts–in all competitions.
Leeds United will not be an easy matchup, especially at Elland Road. However, in their last five home domestic fixtures, they have conceded the slate’s third-most goals against with eight. The Peacocks are a bottom-five club in both Chances Created Against Per 90 and In-the-Box Goals Against Per 90. They are a bottom-ten club in every other meaningful metric. With Wilson on the majority of set pieces and coming off four goals in his last two matches, he is expected to produce double-digit fantasy points in this matchup.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Dominik Szoboszlai (DK $8.2K || FD $21) vs. Burnley FC
- Yéremy Pino (DK $5.2K || FD $15) at Sunderland AFC
Harry Wilson v Crystal Palace. 🪄
Your December Goal of the Month. pic.twitter.com/bfUH6Ewq98
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 14, 2026
EPL DFS Defenders
Defenders
Tyrick Mitchell - DK $4.3K || FD $12
Opponent - at Sunderland AFC
There are a few different ways to go with defenders this weekend, and it ultimately comes down to how much salary is left in a lineup build. However, Tyrick Mitchell will feature. The wingback has been relied on heavily without teammate and defender Daniel Muñoz, who has been out with a knee injury since early December. In Mitchell’s most recent five appearances in all competitions, he has amassed two shots, five chances created, 12 crosses, 14 tackles, five interceptions, 14 clearances, and three blocks.
Sunderland AFC is being saved by their goalkeeper Robin Roefs time after time. The club is bottom-three in every meaningful metric, excluding both In-the-Box Goals Against Per 90 and Penalty Area Defense. This match is projected to be one of the lowest-scoring and could potentially become goalless, further boosting Mitchell’s floor with a clean sheet.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Pedro Porro (DK $7K || FD $13) vs. West Ham United
- Gabriel Gudmundsson (DK $4.5K || FD $11) vs. Fulham FC
Mateta's hold-up play 💪
Tyrick Mitchell's finish 😤#UECL | @CPFC pic.twitter.com/iRA1N175xF— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) December 5, 2025
Corner Takers
- Chelsea FC: Pedro Neto/Enzo Fernández/Cole Palmer
- Brentford FC: Mathias Jensen/Vitaly Janelt
- Leeds United: Anton Stach
- Fulham FC: Harry Wilson/Saša Lukić
- Liverpool FC: Cody Gakpo/Dominik Szoboszlai
- Burnley FC: Jacob Bruun Larsen/Jaidon Anthony/Lucas Pires
- Sunderland AFC: Granit Xhaka/Enzo Le Fée
- Crystal Palace FC: Yéremy Pino/Adam Wharton
- Tottenham Hotspur: Mathys Tel/Pedro Porro
- West Ham United: Jarrod Bowen/Freddie Potts
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
