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    Report: Falcons sign EDGE Za’Darius Smith

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    ATL Outside Linebacker
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    Falcons signed EDGE Za’Darius Smith.

    Smith signed with the Eagles and appeared in five games before abruptly announcing his retirement in October of last year. He worked out for the Browns, one of his many former teams, as recently as last week. Now Jonathan Jones of the Athletic reports the Falcons have signed Smith for pass rush help. It’s unclear how much the 33-year-old EDGE has left in the tank. The last time Smith played a full season was in 2024 when he recorded nine sacks in 17 games with the Browns and Lions.
Which HC with a new team was most impressive?
Devin McCourty, Jason Garrett and Jac Collinsworth discuss the head coaches on new teams that had the most impressive performances in Week 1, breaking down how Joe Brady and Mike LaFleur had strong starts to the season.

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  • ATL Defensive End #55
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    We knew earlier this week that both Penix (knee) and Tagovailoa (back) would be sidelined, and that Cooper Rush would start. EDGE Za’Darius Smith was listed as questionable with a shoulder injury, but he will suit up for this one. Christian Harris, who had been a favorite to start at inside linebacker, is a healthy inactive, which means rookies Kendal Daniels or Harold Perkins Jr. will see extended run.
  • FA Outside Linebacker #52
    Smith, 33, retired in October 2025 as a member of the Eagles. The team released him from the reserve/retired list in June, officially making him a free agent. He is apparently hoping to continue his career. Smith played for the Browns in Weeks 1-9 during the 2024 season before being traded to the Lions.
  • FA Outside Linebacker #52
    Smith announced his retirement in the middle of the 2025 season after signing a one-year deal with Philly just ahead of Week 1. His release makes him a free agent and is an indication that he plans to return to football this year. Smith totaled 1.5 sacks in five games with the Eagles last year. He is likely a part-time player at this point in his career, but Smith still has enough left in the tank to contribute on a playoff-caliber roster.
  • FA Outside Linebacker #52
    This one comes as a bit of a surprise after Smith signed a one-year contract with the Eagles shortly before Week 1, and played in the team’s Week 6 loss to the Giants on Thursday night. The former fourth-round pick who first entered the league with the Ravens in 2015 walks away from the game with 70.5 career sacks on his resumé to go with 87 TFLs and 10 forced fumbles. Smith’s most productive seasons came with the Packers, who he signed a four-year contract with during the 2019 offseason. He earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods during his first two years in Green Bay, racking up 26 sacks over that span and also received Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2020. Smith’s decision to walk away leaves an already banged up Eagles defense another man short. They will likely look to bring on another veteran pass rusher in the coming days to make up for his absence.
  • PHI Defensive End
    After sitting out all offseason, Smith hooks on with the Eagles on a ring-chaser contract for the season. Smith had nine sacks as well as 50 hurries per PFF charting in 2025. He’ll give Philadelphia a sure-fire outside rusher on passing downs and possibly could have a bigger role than that depending on how thing shake out in the defensive line rotation.
  • FA Defensive End
    Smith has been linked to the Lions all offseason, with both sides noting that they had mutual interest and Brad Holmes hinting that Smith had no interest in going through training camp at this stage of his career. With Josh Paschal out an extended period of time, the Lions interest likely has only grown in a reunion at this point.
  • FA Defensive End
    “Everything’s not just one-sided. Za’Darius has expectations, the team has expectations. Sometimes it takes a while for those things to get on the same page, especially a guy that’s been in the league as long as he has. You know, I’m sure that — I’m not saying that he doesn’t want to be in training camp, but if he misses some time (it’s not the worst thing),” Holmes added. It sounds like Smith will probably sign closer to September, and that the Lions likely remain one of the main contenders for his services.
  • FA Defensive End #99
    “We just weren’t in a position to keep him at his salary. Because, look, he played some good snaps for us and he made plays for us when we acquired him, so we would have loved to been able to keep him. We just weren’t able to. ... We’ll just see how it goes,” Holmes continued. Smith’s market has been pretty quiet so far despite another big season with nine sacks and 63 pressures, but that does seem to be the way the market goes sometimes with players entering their age-33 season. We’ll probably get more clarity on where Smith will wind up after the draft. Smith would be a nice late-wave pickup in free agency for many teams at this point.
  • FA Defensive End #99
    The release of Smith saves the Lions just over $5.7 million against the cap for this upcoming season. Smith, who was acquired in a trade with the Browns around last year’s trade deadline, totaled nine sacks and 35 tackles while splitting time with the two teams. He’s totaled nine or more sacks in two of his last three seasons, and his 63 pressures tied for 10th-most amongst EDGE rushers per PFF’s charting. Smith will be 33 at the start of next season. Given the exploding market for pass rushers, he may still be able to secure a two-year deal this offseason.
  • DET Tackle #68
    Refreshed after taking one game off, Decker practiced in full over the last two days and is good to go for Week 11. DE Za’Darius Smith will make his Lions debut this week after being rendered inactive in his first week with the team (Week 10), post-trade.

Rotoworld

  • NYG Wide Receiver #88
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    Malachi Fields caught 2-of-4 targets for 25 yards in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    The rookie wide receiver showcased an all-around polished skillset that included trust in the run game, reinforcing offseason reports that he had locked down the WR2 role opposite Malik Nabers. His 6'4, 220-pound frame was on full display as he was continually utilized as both a down-blocker and blocker in the second level on runs, something that should allow him to continue to operate as the clear-cut WR2 for the Giants throughout his rookie campaign. That said, the box scores highlights the obvious distinction that his snap rate won’t always translate to fantasy production while playing alongside Nabers and tight end Isaiah Likely, the latter two of whom commanded 17 targets on 29 Jaxson Dart pass attempts. The good news is that he played well ahead of veterans Darnell Mooney and Odell Beckham Jr. Fantasy managers are best off viewing Fields as a high-end stash at the end of benches for the time being.
  • NYG Wide Receiver #1
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    Malik Nabers caught 6-of-9 targets for 69 yards in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    Nabers took his decision to play all the way up to inactives, ultimately deeming himself healthy enough to take the field against a divisional rival. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t take long to knock the rust off his alpha receiver, giving him a quick out on his first target to get his feet wet and get into the flow of the game. Nabers would make numerous athletic plays from that point forward, combining with newcomer tight end Isaiah Likely to account for 17 targets on only 29 Jaxson Dart pass attempts. Fantasy managers can likely project that volume forward as the offense appeared to run entirely through its top two options through the air in the opening game. Nabers gets a difficult matchup against the Rams in Week 2, where he remains a back end WR1 in fantasy circles.
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    Isaiah Likely caught all eight targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    Making his debut for a new team, Likely didn’t wait long to prove he can be a featured tight end for the Giants, scoring on the final possession of the first half and first possession after the break. His first score highlighted his athleticism as he escaped coverage to the corner of the end zone from 15 yards out while his second trip to paint was reminiscent of a Nagy design for Travis Kelce in which the veteran tight end shed a chip-block in the flat for an easy score from two yards. Likely looks every bit of a fantasy TE1 but gets a difficult matchup against the Rams in Week 2. Even so, you’re starting him if you got him.
  • NYG Running Back #44
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    Cam Skattebo rushed 18 times for 81 yards and a touchdown in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    Although Skattebo was not targeted in the pass game, his 18 carries handily led the team. Furthermore, presumed backup Tyrone Tracy lost a fumble on one of his two carries, resulting in Devin Singletary taking over primary backup duties for the remainder of the game. Those two variables should keep Skattebo’s weekly volume high after showing no ill effects of the devastating ankle injury suffered in 2025. His touchdown now gives him eight total scores in nine professional appearances despite only six of those being starts, a rate that will keep Skattebo in the weekly RB1 discussion moving forward. That said, fantasy managers could be forced to test their depth ahead of a Week 2 matchup against the Rams on the road.
  • NYG Quarterback #6
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    Jaxson Dart completed 23-of-29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns in the Giants’ 28-20, Week 1 win over the Cowboys, adding 54 yards on 11 carries.

    Dart managed to convert 9-of-10 third downs as the Giants completely controlled the flow of the game against their divisional rivals, leading to over 13 more minutes of possession than the Cowboys. Fantasy managers will also be ecstatic about the 11 rush attempts, specifically due to the fact that over half of those were designed carries in Matt Nagy’s offense. Touchdown passes to tight end Isaiah Likely book-ended halftime, with the second-year quarterback adding a third to running back Devin Singletary in the fourth quarter. Nagy’s offense appears to be locked into the team’s top two options through the air, highlighted by the 17 combined targets filtered to Malik Nabers and Likely. Dart’s passing volume could see a significant uptick when the Giants hit the road to face the Rams in Week 2, during which fantasy managers can treat him as a back end QB1.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #19
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    Ryan Flournoy caught 2-of-4 targets for 22 yards in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the Giants.

    The veteran receiver inked a one-year contract extension this offseason to retain his supporting role in the high-powered Dallas offense, but the early returns were less than inspiring. Flournoy appeared to have a stranglehold on the WR3 duties for the Cowboys but will be hard-pressed to return consistent fantasy production for as long as both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens remain healthy. He’ll be a boom-bust WR4 in a plus matchup against the Commanders in Week 2.
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    Jake Ferguson caught both targets for six yards in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the Giants.

    The Cowboys were dominated in both time of possession and total offense on a night the Giants converted 9-of-10 third downs, resulting in the poor showing in the box scores for the veteran tight end. Ferguson’s stark fantasy splits when both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are healthy remain a concern for fantasy managers that invested a middle-round pick in his services, something that a home matchup against a forgiving Commanders defense could remedy. Even so, Ferguson is nothing more than a middling TE2 in Week 2.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
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    George Pickens caught 3-of-6 targets for 28 yards in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the Giants.

    Pickens picked up two early receptions on the team’s first two possessions, contributing further by drawing a defensive pass interference penalty that would set up a CeeDee Lamb touchdown in the second quarter. An untimely drop on third down near the end of the first quarter halted any momentum he had in the box score as he would go on to notch a lone additional catch the rest of the game. The Cowboys managed only 52 offensive plays as they were dominated in both total offense and time of possession, while watching their defense allow the Giants to go 9-of-10 on third down. It is likely we see much more inspiring fantasy production the remainder of the season as Pickens plays out the year on the franchise tag. He enters a Week 2 home showdown against the Commanders as an upside WR2.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #88
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    CeeDee Lamb caught 5-of-8 targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the Giants.

    Although eventually leading the team in both targets and receiving, Lamb got off to a slow start while committing an early drop. He would score from one yard out in the second quarter after a Javonte Williams touchdown was ruled short of the goal line and also draw a defensive pass interference penalty in the second half that would lead to a Williams score, but he was otherwise removed from the game through defensive scheming. Better days are likely ahead for the perennial WR1, which starts in a Week 2 home showdown against another divisional opponent in the Commanders.
  • DAL Running Back #33
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    Javonte Williams rushed 12 times for 41 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys’ Week 1 loss to the Giants, adding five receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.

    Williams understandably operated as a clear workhorse for a Cowboys team with little depth at the position following Malik Davis’ season-ending injury earlier in the week. His two second half scores and five receptions masked poor rushing efficiency on a night the Cowboys ran only 52 offensive plays, although a robust 32.7 percent total opportunity share foreshadows the potential for continued elite counting stats for the remainder of the regular season. Fantasy managers can continue to start Williams as a volume-driven RB1 as the team prepares to host the Commanders in Week 2.