Nate

Kaeding

In his defense, they were all above 40 yards in tough conditions. But it’s fair to wonder if his miss versus the Jets in the playoffs last season is in his head.

''Hey, 33 percent is better than zero. We’re making progress,’' joke coach Marty Schottenheimer. We’d stay away from Kaeding in fantasy drafts until he turns this slump around.

“I just loved it,” head coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “It almost brought tears to my eyes. He’s an outstanding kicker, we all know that.” As a final-round target, there’s not a kicker we like more this year than Kaeding.

The strong-legged kicker split the uprights on his first attempt, a 47-yarder. Kaeding caught a break in the second quarter after missing wide right – Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha was flagged for running into the kicker. He’s an excellent fantasy play again in Week 2 vs. the Titans.

A perennial top-five fantasy kicker, Kaeding appears poised to be replaced by Nick Novak, who is just 19-of-30 lifetime on field goals. You should be able to do better for a replacement, though Novak could rack up points in San Diego’s elite offense. He just won’t be a good bet to keep the job for long.

San Diego released his only competition, Mackenzie Hoambrecker. Like any rookie kicker, Kaeding isn’t recommended in fantasy leagues.

Kaeding, who tore the ACL in his non-kicking leg last September, recently said he “doesn’t anticipate a camp competition.” He’s in for a rude awakening after Nick Novak nailed 27-of-34 field goals in 2011, including 15-of-16 tries within 40 yards. Kaeding is owed $2 million compared to Novak’s $700K. The longtime Charger kicker’s roster spot is very much in danger.

Novak started out hot, but missed six of his final 16 attempts. Nate Kaeding, meanwhile, has already resumed kicking and “absolutely” expects to pick up where he left off before ACL surgery. Barring a setback, Kaeding will reclaim the job for 2012.

The North County Times clarifies that Kaeding suffered “multiple ligament tears,” so his injury appears to have been more extensive than a routine ACL. The tears happened in Kaeding’s non-kicking leg. Though Nick Novak was terrific in Kaeding’s stead last season, it’s expected that he’ll get his kicking job back.

Kaeding sustained his tear during Week 1 last season. The good news is that the damage was to his plant leg, not his kicking leg. If healthy, he shouldn’t have a problem beating out Nick Novak. “If we had to play a game right now, I feel like I’m dialed in enough to do it,” Kaeding said.