From Undrafted to Unexpected Starter: Unpacking Tommy DeVito's Giants Journey

Well, hasn't this season been a bit of a rollercoaster for the New York Giants, especially under center? With Daniel Jones unfortunately sidelined by an ACL tear – a truly brutal blow, you have to admit – and Tyrod Taylor also nursing an injury, the reins have been handed over to an unlikely hero, or perhaps, a 'guy who's just doing his best,' in undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito. It's a classic NFL story, isn't it? One minute you're hoping for a practice squad spot, the next you're leading a storied franchise into battle. For Giants fans and fantasy managers alike, all eyes have been on 'Tommy Cutlets' as he navigates the choppy waters of starting quarterback in the league.

DeVito, to his credit, has shown flashes of competence amidst what is, let's be real, a very tough situation. We saw him connect for three touchdowns against the Washington Commanders, which was certainly a pleasant surprise for anyone who dared to stream him or just watched the game with an open mind. He showed a bit of swagger, a bit of that 'I belong here' mentality. However, the flip side of that coin quickly appeared against the Dallas Cowboys, where he was sacked a whopping nine times. That's not just on him, of course – the offensive line clearly had a rough day – but it highlights the immense pressure and the steep learning curve he's facing.

So, what about Week 12, when the Giants were set to face Bill Belichick's New England Patriots? Now, the Patriots might not be the offensive juggernaut they once were, but their defense, under Belichick's masterful guidance, is consistently a formidable opponent. They know how to exploit rookie quarterbacks, how to create pressure, and how to confuse even seasoned veterans. For DeVito, this was never going to be an easy matchup. It’s a classic trap game for a young signal-caller, designed to force mistakes and make life incredibly difficult in the pocket.

Now, for the fantasy football managers out there scratching their heads and scouring the waiver wire: where did Tommy DeVito fit into your Week 12 plans? Truthfully? Unless you were in an incredibly deep league, a superflex setup, or perhaps experiencing an unprecedented string of quarterback injuries on your roster, DeVito was a very, very risky play. His floor is incredibly low, as evidenced by those nine sacks against Dallas. While he could throw for a touchdown or two, the likelihood of a high-volume, fantasy-relevant performance against a tough Patriots defense just isn't there. He’s essentially a desperation streaming option, and even then, you're rolling the dice big time. You'd likely have been better off exploring other options if they were available.

Ultimately, Tommy DeVito is currently the man under center for the New York Giants, and he’s giving it his all in a challenging situation. But from a fantasy perspective, and even in terms of real-life NFL expectations, we need to temper our enthusiasm. He’s a placeholder, a learning-on-the-job kind of guy, and for Week 12, his fantasy outlook was definitely in the 'sit' category for most reasonable leagues. The Giants are in a rebuild, and DeVito's journey, while compelling, is still very much in its infancy.