Week 5 Waiver Wire: Ryan Torain and 3 RBs to Replace Rashard Mendenhall

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall's knee injury isn't considered serious, per NFL.com, but his ultimate status for Week 5 will be dependent on how he practices this week.

And even if Mendenhall starts on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, the Titans are ranked eighth in rushing defense so far this season. On top of that, Mendenhall had been rushing for just 3.0 yards per carry before his injury, anyway.

Perhaps it's best for fantasy football owners to go another route in Week 5.

Here are three waiver-wire running backs who can replace the injured Steelers star.

3. James Starks, Green Bay Packers

Starks hasn't done as much as I thought he would as he continues to get more touches than Ryan Grant, but he had 63 rushing yards and 38 receiving yards in the Packers' 49-23 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Starks has only one touchdown all season, but he's averaging 4.7 yards per carry and you have to figure he's going to start making it into the end zone in the Packers' high-powered offensive attack.

The Packers play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5. The Falcons are giving up 3.6 yards per carry, but they can be beat on the ground. I expect Starks to score his second touchdown in what is sure to be a shootout in Week 5.

2. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens

Willis McGahee has been somewhat of a revelation this season. Despite approaching 30 years of age, McGahee almost has as many yards in four weeks with the Denver Broncos than he had all of last season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Through four weeks, McGahee has 259 rushing yards and has scored two total touchdowns. Against the vaunted defense of the Packers in Week 4, McGahee rushed 15 times for a whopping 103 yards.

McGahee and the Broncos play the San Diego Chargers in Week 5, who give up 4.1 yards per carry and can be run on. I expect a steady dose of McGahee for the Broncos.

1. Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins

Ryan Torain, who rushed for 742 yards and four touchdowns last season, was expected to be the Redskins' starter this season.

All it took was a broken left hand on Aug. 3 and the signing of Tim Hightower and, poof, there went his starting job.

But he impressed head coach Mike Shanahan in practice leading up to Week 4, and by the end of the week, Shanahan was gushing about the fourth-year pro.

Torain rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, and Shanahan said it "was like he was possessed," via The Washington Post.

Shanahan knows what he's doing and he obviously saw something in Torain and not enough in Hightower Sunday (six carries, 13 yards) to make a change.

Shanahan likes to go with the hot hand and Torain just happens to be going up a Philadelphia Eagles defense in Week 6 that is giving up 5.3 yards per carry this season.

Do I need to say any more?