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Brandon's DraftKings and FanDuel EPL DFS lineup picks for English Premier League Soccer on 1/25/26 (Matchweek 23). His top daily fantasy soccer forwards, midfielders, defenders, goalkeepers.
Welcome back to "The Kick-Off," and welcome to the 2025-2026 season! Domestic fixture congestion has finally calmed down, but Champions League and Europa League congestion is back! Expect plenty of rotation given the lack of rest between this last weekend's fixtures and the midweek fixtures. Let's kick off Matchweek 23!!
The top favorite for this week is Brentford FC (-120) vs. Nottingham Forest (+330). I will guide you through this three-match slate starting at 9:00 A.M. EST on Sunday, January 25.
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 $12
Opponent - vs. Nottingham Forest
Caoimhín Kelleher and the Bees disappointed last weekend in the 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge. The goalkeeper made zero saves and conceded two goals in the loss. He has made 17 saves, conceded five goals, and recorded two clean sheets in his most recent five starts in all competitions.
Luckily, Brentford plays host to Nottingham Forest this weekend. The visitors have scored the slate’s second-lowest goals, excluding splits, with four. Only Crystal Palace FC has scored fewer in their last five fixtures, excluding splits, with two. There is one risk with this matchup, though. Nottingham Forest is in the bottom five in Shots Per 90 in their last five fixtures, excluding splits. This could limit Kelleher’s ceiling.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Robert Sánchez (DK $5.3K || FD $11) at Crystal Palace FC
- Emiliano Martínez (DK $4.1K || FD $9) at Newcastle United
EPL DFS Forwards
Igor Thiago - DK $9.4K || FD $22
Opponent - vs. Nottingham Forest
Igor Thiago has the potential to be one of the most owned players at any position on the slate. Over his most recent five appearances in all competitions, he has produced five goals, one assist, 17 shots, five chances created, three crosses, two tackles, two interceptions, four clearances, and one block. He now walks into a prime matchup and perhaps the most optimal matchup on the small three-fixture slate.
Excluding splits, Nottingham Forest are tied for the second-most goals conceded in their last five fixtures, with eight. Furthermore, they are a bottom-five club in all meaningful metrics in a Per 90 Against viewpoint, excluding splits. Thiago is projected to lead all forwards in fantasy points on the slate.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Pedro Neto (DK $7.8K || FD $15) at Crystal Palace FC
- Jadon Sancho (DK $3.8K || FD $12) at Newcastle United
Igor Thiago. #UECL goal machine 😤 pic.twitter.com/Q8Y1KAifQn
— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) January 8, 2026
EPL DFS Midfielders
Mathias Jensen - DK $4.6K || FD $13
Opponent - vs. Nottingham Forest
Sticking with Brentford and the Bees, we have midfielder Mathias Jensen. After weeks of play, when teammate and fellow midfielder Mikkael Damsgaard was in an elevated role, he has now taken a backseat for Jensen. Jensen now has one goal, one assist, ten shots, nine chances created, 28 crosses, 11 corners, three tackles, and two clearances within his most recent five fixtures in all competitions.
As mentioned above, Nottingham Forest is playing poor defense and is conceding numerous chances created and big chances created per match. They are also allowing too many chances within the 18-yard box. All it takes is one ideal bounce, and Jensen instantly hits his ceiling. Considering Jensen’s role on set pieces and the optimal matchup, he is expected to break double-digit fantasy points here.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Youri Tielemans (DK $6.4K || FD $17) at Newcastle United
- Yéremy Pino (DK $6.2K || FD $16) vs. Chelsea FC
Keep them shut around Mathias Jensen 🥜 pic.twitter.com/K3fmwvpnhw
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 29, 2025
EPL DFS Defenders
Defenders
Kieran Trippier - DK $5.8K || FD $12
Opponent - vs. Aston Villa FC
Kieran Trippier is back, and the Magpies have thrown him into the starting XI with haste. Newcastle is struggling for consistent creation from the flank, something that Trippier has always provided, and he has not wasted time. In his first three matches back, he has amassed one shot, three chances created, 20 crosses, eight corners, five tackles, four interceptions, five clearances, and one block. In THREE matches. He could very well give Igor Thiago a run for the most-owned player on the slate.
This home fixture against Aston Villa FC is projected to be a fast-paced matchup and could feature numerous high-chance opportunities on both ends of the pitch. Trippier would benefit from this, given his versatile skill set on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball. At his salary, he is still considered a ‘value’ play because of his floor from set pieces and peripherals, as well as his ceiling.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Reece James (DK $6.3K || FD $12) at Crystal Palace FC
- Michael Kayode (DK $4.7K || FD $13) vs. Nottingham Forest
Corner Takers
- Brentford FC: Mathias Jensen/Vitaly Janelt
- Nottingham Forest: Elliot Anderson/Morgan Gibbs-White
- Crystal Palace FC: Yéremy Pino/Adam Wharton
- Chelsea FC: Pedro Neto/Reece James
- Newcastle United: Kieran Trippier
- Aston Villa FC: Youri Tielemans
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
