Week 16 Waiver Wire: Early Pickups and Breakout Fantasy Football Candidates

It's money time in the world of fantasy football. The playoffs are here for most leagues. Going at the best teams in your group without a productive quarterback is a bad idea.

Luckily, the rigors of the NFL season have created three very real options for waiver wire pickups at the sport's glamour position. Here's three quarterbacks who might hold the key to a fantasy playoff run for your team.

Tom Savage

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Believe it or not, the Houston Texans' 24-year-old rookie quarterback has drawn comparisons to both Troy Aikman and Tom Brady. He has a huge arm, good size and a willingness to stand in the pocket and make accurate throws.

This isn't a scouting report, though. This is a projection for a potential breakout fantasy star in Week 16 and 17. Tom Savage matches that profile. In Week 15, he was thrust into action after Ryan Fitzpatrick broke his leg, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com, during a scramble in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts.

The final two games of the season will be Savage's opportunity to prove he can be the quarterback of the future for a team desperately in need of one.

He has plenty of weapons. Arian Foster is one of the best all-purpose backs in the league. Andre Johnson is still one of the best possession wide receivers, and DeAndre Hopkins is a budding, dynamic threat down the field.

Savage was only so-so in his debut, but considering the circumstances, there were some positive signs in his 10-of-19, 127-yard, one-interception performance. He got some snaps with the first team, worked out some jitters and displayed the arms strength most teams knew he had.

Savage is a mature player with excellent physical traits. With the Texans' chances of making the playoffs looking scant, don't be surprised to see Savage turned loose a bit in Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Derek Anderson

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

Thankfully, Cam Newton's life and long-term livelihood weren't damaged in the car accident he was involved in on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Newton did suffer a back injury that kept him out of the Carolina Panthers' 19-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday.

It's possible, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport (via Connor Orr of NFL.com), that Newton could return in Week 16 or before the season is over. With the Panthers still in the running for the NFC South division title, it would be foolish to rule him out.

That said, Newton not only experienced a back injury, but he also went through a potentially traumatic experience. If the Panthers held him out for the rest of the season, it wouldn't be far-fetched.

In that scenario, Derek Anderson could then become the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. The Panthers clearly believe in Anderson, per David Newton of ESPN.com (h/t The Score).

On Sunday, Anderson was solid. He threw for 277 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Anderson is a former Pro Bowler who has valuable experience. If Newton cannot go, the Panthers would be in capable hands, as would your fantasy team.

Robert Griffin III

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

An injury to Colt McCoy put Robert Griffin III back under center for Washington Sunday against the New York Giants. McCoy reinjured his neck, and RGIII came in and played pretty well.

He completed 18 of 27 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown. He even had a touchdown run called back. It didn't appear to be the right call. RGIII had clearly fallen out of favor with head coach Jay Gruden. Brian McNally of 106.7 The Fan quoted McCoy discussing his injury:

However with Washington's season a wash, and with McCoy nursing a potentially serious injury, it wouldn't be a surprise to see RGIII as the starter for the last two games of the season.

This is obviously not a definite, but if you have a tough QB situation, or you were starting McCoy, RGIII is worth a gamble.