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Brandon's DraftKings and FanDuel EPL DFS lineup picks for English Premier League Soccer on 1/7/26 (Matchweek 21). 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 in the thick of fixture congestion. Expect plenty of rotation given the lack of rest between this last weekend's fixtures and the midweek fixtures. Let's kick off Matchweek 21!!
The top favorite for this week is Manchester City FC (-260) vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (+600). I will guide you through this six-match slate starting at 2:30 P.M. EST on Wednesday, January 7.
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
Caoimhín Kelleher - DK $5.4K || FD $11
Opponent - vs. Sunderland AFC
The midweek fixtures are looking like a pay-up spot for the goalkeeper position. Despite the high salary, it could prove to pay off. In Brentford’s last five domestic home matches, they have conceded the second-best Goals Against Per 90 with four. Furthermore, Sunderland AFC, in their most recent five domestic away fixtures, have the league’s worst Goals Per 90, with two.
If you look further, Brentford AFC in that time frame is third-worst in Shots Against Per 90 and just outside the top half in Goals Against Per 90. In Caoimhín Kelleher’s last five starts, he has made 19 saves, conceded four goals, and recorded two clean sheets. He is expected to make value here.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (DK $5.9K || FD $14) vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- Jordan Pickford (DK $5.5K || FD $12) vs. Wolverhampton FC
Caoimhin Kelleher in top form this December 💪 pic.twitter.com/o5WlPYkohE
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 30, 2025
EPL DFS Forwards
Ollie Watkins - DK $8.3K || FD $19
Opponent - at Crystal Palace
Ollie Watkins and Aston Villa FC are on a strong run of form offensively in their last month of fixtures. In Aston Villa’s last five away fixtures, they have scored the second-most Goals Per 90 on the slate, with 12. Crystal Palace has been struggling in its previous five domestic matches. The Eagles are the worst club in Goals Against Per 90 and the second-worst in both In-the-Box Goals Against Per 90 and Penalty Area Defense.
In Ollie Watkins’s last five domestic matches–four starts–he has produced four goals, one assist, 12 shots, one chance created, one cross, two tackles, and two clearances. Watkins is projected to exceed value in this road fixture.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Erling Haaland (DK $10.8K || FD $25) vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- Beto (DK $3.9K || FD $15) vs. Wolverhampton FC
Ollie Watkins, WOW 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jW52oAXBtX
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2026
EPL DFS Midfielders
Jack Grealish - DK $7.7K || FD $19
Opponent - vs. Wolverhampton FC
Once again, Jack Grealish has moved mountains and transformed Everton’s offense. In his first full match since his sickness, he gathered two assists, four chances created, six crosses, one tackle, and one interception. He now has two assists, ten chances created, 10 crosses, two tackles, and four interceptions throughout his last five domestic matches.
From a Per 90 Against viewpoint, in Wolverhampton’s most recent five fixtures, they are the fourth-worst in Goals, the sixth-worst in Shots, and they are bottom-3 in every other meaningful metric. Grealish primarily has open-play value, with a slim chance of a share of set pieces. This provides him with a strong floor, making him ‘viable’ in ‘CASH-centric’ contests.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- John McGinn (DK $6.3K || FD $16) at Crystal Palace FC
- Lewis Cook (DK $3.5K || FD $11) vs. Tottenham Hotspur
EPL DFS Defenders
Defenders
Pedro Porro - DK $6.2K || FD $14
Opponent - at AFC Bournemouth
The final piece of the puzzle is Pedro Porro. The wingback is projected to be in charge of all set pieces during Tottenham’s midweek fixture, with teammate and midfielder Mohammed Kudu expected to sit. In Porro’s most recent five domestic appearances, he has managed four shots, seven chances created, 28 crosses, six corners, 16 tackles, four interceptions, and 16 clearances. His value is even more substantial on FanDuel, where they reward clearances.
AFC Bournemouth, in their last five matches, are the worst in both In-the-Box Goals Against Per 90 and Penalty Area Defense. All it takes is one lucky bounce in the box, and Porro instantly makes value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Reece James (DK $6.3K || FD $18) at Fulham FC ** LISTED AS MID ON FD **
- Michael Kayode (DK $4.4K || FD $13) vs. Sunderland AFC
Corner Takers
- AFC Bournemouth: Lewis Cook/David Brooks
- Tottenham Hotspur: Pedro Porro
- Brentford FC: Mikkel Damsgaard/Vitaly Janelt
- Sunderland AFC: Granit Xhaka/Enzo Le Fée
- Crystal Palace FC: Yéremy Pino/Adam Wharton
- Aston Villa FC: John McGinn/Youri Tielemans
- Everton FC: James Garner/Dwight McNeil
- Wolverhampton FC: Jhon Arias
- Fulham FC: Harry Wilson/Saša Lukić
- Chelsea FC: Pedro Neto/Reece James
- Manchester City FC: Phil Foden
- Brighton & Hove Albion: Ferdi Kadioğlu
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
