Nick

Novak

Novak fell out of the NFL because of his 19-of-30 career mark on field goals in the majors. But he says he’s perfected his craft and points to his success in the minors as evidence. We’d make Novak prove he’s improved, but the Chargers seem convinced. He’s someone to monitor in fantasy circles as part of San Diego’s explosive offense.

Novak won out over Dave Rayner and Shayne Graham. He spent last year’s training camp in San Diego, so the Bolts are familiar with his leg. Novak is 19-of-30 (63.3 percent) on field goals in four short NFL stints. He’ll get plenty of scoring chances in the Chargers’ high-scoring offense, but accuracy is his bugaboo.

In the league since 2005, Novak failed to unseat Nick Folk for Jets’ kicking duties during training camp. Just 19-of-30 lifetime on field goals, Novak would be a huge downgrade from Kaeding, but likely still worth a look in fantasy leagues thanks to the offense he would be kicking for.

With the Chargers struggling mightily in the red zone sans Antonio Gates, Novak has emerged as an elite fantasy kicker. Since taking over for Nate Kaeding, Novak is 11-of-11 in four games.

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.

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.

King is stationed at Chargers camp and ostensibly got the information on good authority from the coaching staff. Although Novak exceeded expectations as Kaeding’s fill-in last season, his accuracy has never been in the same neighborhood. Kevin Acee of the Union-Tribune San Diego assures the job will go to Kaeding “almost for sure.”

Chargers insider Kevin Acee believed that Nate Kaeding had already locked up the job even before Thursday night. But Novak may have sealed the deal by banging this chip-shot off the left upright. Kaeding, fully recovered from an ACL tear in his non-kicking leg, will be on the fantasy radar.

Nick Novak will kick in Week 5 against the Saints. Kaeding was once one of the league’s top kickers, but has grown troublingly injury prone, missing 19 games the past three seasons. Headed for free agency, it’s fair to wonder how long the Chargers will hold his roster spot. Kaeding should be dropped in all fantasy leagues.

Nick Novak will assume kicking duties for San Diego this weekend, and could be the Chargers’ kicker for the near future. Fantasy owners should make sure to get Kaeding out of their starting lineups.