Za'Darius Smith's football journey began late, after a basketball-focused youth in Greenville, Alabama. A vote by about a dozen seniors let him join football his junior year, setting up a Hall-of-Fame-like rise.

Now with the Philadelphia Eagles, the 69.5-sack veteran just paired with rookie Drew Mukuba to sack Patrick Mahomes in a 20-17 win over Kansas City. No training camp? He feels fresh, and the defense is climbing.

His story—backed by a grateful nod to those seniors—frames a rising unit that fantasy managers will watch for sack-rate trends and defensive upside as the season unfolds.

Week 2 inactives shift Eagles depth charts dramatically. Dallas Goedert is out with a knee injury, Will Shipley rib out, Tanner McKee thumb uncertainty, Drew Kendall out, and Azeez Ojulari plus Ogbo Okoronkwo are healthy scratches again. Grant Calcaterra steps in as the starter at tight end with Kylen Granson as the other TE and Cameron Latu elevated for extra depth and potential fullback duties. Za’Darius Smith debuts for Philadelphia, while Tank Bigsby may mix in behind Barkley as A.J. Dillon contributes some offense and returns kicks.

Chiefs also lean on reinforcements with Xavier Worthy (out) and Jalen Royals out, plus Jared Wiley, Elijah Mitchell, Hunter Nourzad, and Malik Herring inactive. The mix behind Barkley features the newcomer Bigsby and veterans, potentially shifting targets away from Worthy and toward other playmakers in Kansas City. Overall, expect TE and edge rotations to heavily influence fantasy angles in this matchup.

The Eagles and Chiefs square off again with defensive chess at the forefront. Jalen Carter returns to anchor Philadelphia’s interior, while Jordan Davis threads the run game and frees space for a revamped pass rush. Za'Darius Smith slanks in off the edge alongside Nolan Smith/Jalyx Hunt and the rookie duo Baun-Campbell to pressure Patrick Mahomes and chase big plays from Kelce.

The secondary faces a stern test as Adoree' Jackson starts and Jakorian Bennett brings fresh depth. Rashee Rice is out, Xavier Worthy is banged up, and Andrew Mukuba logged heavy snaps in the opener, setting the stage for a strategic day of containment and opportunistic plays in big-game reps.

Key mismatches, game plans, and the rotation will define fantasy angles at each defensive spot, from interior disruptors to edge theatrics and secondary misdirections, all shaping the Sunday narrative.

Za'Darius Smith signs with Philadelphia, bringing a veteran edge presence and a 69-sack resume to a retooled Eagles pass rush. He’s entering a scheme led by Vic Fangio that leans on versatile pressure around the edge and mentoring younger players, with his role to be determined as he acclimates post-practice ramp-up.

Philadelphia backed Smith with one-year adds like Azeez Ojulari, Joshua Uche, and Ogbo Okoronkwo to rebuild depth after losing Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat. Jalen Carter’s status looms, but the rotation should boost sacks and pressure in coming weeks, elevating fantasy angles for the Eagles’ front.

Goedert remains a primary target, while Adoree’ Jackson’s expected start against Kansas City frames the secondary’s challenge. The edge crew’s evolution will drive sack upside and per-game fantasy value for Eagles pass-rushers, so monitor snap splits and how quickly Smith and co. meld with Fangio’s system.

Philadelphia bolsters its pass rush by adding Za'Darius Smith, while also hosting seven players for a workout and signing Patrick Johnson to the 53-man roster. The front office then adds Montrell Johnson and Hollin Pierce to the practice squad, releasing Elijah Cooks from it. A surprising late move sends Tank Bigsby from Jacksonville to Philadelphia to deepen the backfield behind Barkley, Shipley, and Dillon, with Bigsby valued as a potential returner. The RB room now carries extra competition and cost-efficient control for next year, signaling a shift toward versatility and return-game upside.

The moves emphasize Philadelphia's bet on depth over a single-spot fix, with attention turning to Bigsby's kickoff return ability and the RB rotation in Weeks ahead. While Shipley recovers from a rib issue, Bigsby's role will be watched to see if he pushes Shipley or Dillon for touches or if Barkley remains the clear workhorse. In fantasy terms, the Eagles’ backfield dynamics and Bigsby’s special-teams potential create more volatile but intriguing weekly options.