Pennsylvania looks to regulate, not ban, daily fantasy sports leagues

WHILE NEW YORK dropped the hammer on daily fantasy sports leagues, Pennsylvania is taking a much more measured approach.

"We're holding hearings to determine what, if anything, needs to be done," state Rep. Jamie Santora told the Daily News.

The House of Representatives' Gaming Oversight Committee will meet on Dec. 3 to discuss the next step.

"Yes, there is skill involved, but is there also luck?" said Santora, a member of the oversight committee who represents Delaware County. "What if a player gets hurt? What if he has the game of his life?"

A bill recently was introduced in the Pennsylvania Legislature that would require daily leagues to align with state casinos and thus be regulated by the casino commission, for which Pennsylvania would collect a tax. Just imagine FanDuel giving out one of those giant checks made payable to Mr. Tom Wolf.

The latest missile fired at daily fantasy sports leagues came this week from New York's attorney general, which ordered FanDuel and DraftKings to cease taking wagers in the state.

The office of Eric Schneiderman concluded after a one-month investigation that daily fantasy sports leagues are games of chance, and not skill, as the exemption within the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act has provided.

FanDuel and DraftKings disagreed with the order and said they intend to fight it in court. Smaller sites shut their New York operations immediately. Regardless of how this plays out, the lawyers will clean up like Tom Brady playing against a JV defense.

Daily leagues also are being scrutinized for hints of insider trading. In September, an employee of DraftKings won $350,000 while playing on FanDuel. Each company denied anything illegal was done, though both now prohibit employees from playing in daily leagues.

Like New York, Nevada last month also ordered a halt to daily leagues. Other states are trying to figure things out. The sentiment in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and others appears to lean toward regulation rather than banishment.

"We're in an evaluation process; we're not looking to cut anything off," said Santora, who plays in a traditional fantasy football league with friends, but not in daily leagues. "Our goal is to make sure the amateur (player) is protected. We've got to protect amateur users."

We're raising a glass (of O'Douls, of course) to Mark Vogeding, a special education teacher at Paulsboro High School who was one of three entrants to come closest to projecting DeMarco Murray's rushing total last week.

Murray ran for 83 yards against the Cowboys. Vogeding, Butch Favinger, of Allentown, Pa., and Min On, of Cherry Hill, N.J., each guessed that Murray would run for 84 yards, while a few others said 85. Vogeding was selected randomly to win a Daily News fantasy football shirt. Thanks to all who played.

Wes Welker is back in the NFL after signing with the Rams, but is worth a stash only in leagues of 14 or larger. Welker, 34, has had numerous concussions and was a shell of himself at the end of last season.

Four quarterbacks have combined to throw Welker his 55 touchdown receptions, including playoffs: Tom Brady (38), Peyton Manning (13), Matt Cassel (3) and Joey Harrington (1). Welker's first touchdown was a 95-yard kickoff return in late in the 2004 season. Four of his TDs came against the Eagles.

Quarterback: Those who own Philip Rivers could do worse than pick up Tony Romo, who is due to return next week. Rivers, who has a bye this week, will be throwing to a receiving corps decimated by injuries ... Sleeper of the week is Washington's Kirk Cousins against a New Orleans defense that has given up 17 touchdown passes and an average of 336 yards over the last five games.

Running back: The Packers have given up (for now) on Eddie Lacy and are turning to James Starks as their No. 1 running back. Because there's not much out there in RB land, dropping Lacy for just another running back isn't yet recommended. Someone in Thursday's chat on Philly.com asked about picking up New England's James White for Lacy. Sorry, but that feels like a lateral move. The better play might be for the Starks owner to see what he could get in a trade from whoever wasted a high draft pick on Lacy ... Matt Forte was again limited in practice Thursday because of a right knee injury. The Rams, Chicago's opponent this week, has been very good against the run lately. Adrian Peterson hit them for 125 yards on Sunday, but needed 29 carries (4.3 avg.) to do so.

Wide receiver: Denver's Emmanuel Sanders did not practice again Thursday, which could be trouble. Sanders injured his left ankle on the first play from scrimmage, yet gutted out a six-catch, 90-yard performance. Tight end Owen Daniels (6-102-1) had easily his best game as Sanders hobbled. Bump Daniels up in the TE rankings if Sanders doesn't improve ... Anyone who saw what Cole Beasley did to the Eagles on Sunday night ought to give serious consideration to playing Miami's Jarvis Landry as a high WR2 this week.

Bye: Chargers, Colts, Falcons, 49ers

Quarterbacks

1. Tom Brady, Patriots: at NYG

2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers: vs. Det.

3. Drew Brees, Saints: at Was.

4. Cam Newton, Panthers: at Ten.

5. Andy Dalton, Bengals: vs. Hou.

6. Derek Carr, Raiders: vs. Min.

7. Eli Manning, Giants: vs. NE

8. Joe Flacco, Ravens: vs. Jac.

9. Peyton Manning, Broncos: vs. KC

10. Kirk Cousins, Redskins: vs. NO

Running backs

1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings: at Oak.

2. Todd Gurley, Rams: vs. Chi.

3. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers: vs. Cle.

4. LeSean McCoy, Bills: at NYJ

5. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks: vs. Ari.

6. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots: at NYG

7. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers: at Ten.

8. James Starks, Packers: vs. Det.

9. Darren McFadden, Cowboys: at TB

10. DeMarco Murray, Eagles: vs. Mia.

11. J. Langford/M. Forte, Bears: at Stl.

12. Justin Forsett, Ravens: vs. Jac.

13. T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars: at Bal.

14. Chris Ivory, Jets: vs. Buf.

15. Mark Ingram, Saints: vs. Was.

16. Lamar Miller, Dolphins: at Phi.

17. Latavius Murray, Raiders: vs. Min.

18. Charcandrick West, Chiefs: at Den.

19. Doug Martin, Buccaneers: vs. Dal.

20. Ryan Mathews, Eagles: vs. Mia.

Wide receivers

1. Randall Cobb, Packers: vs. Det.

2. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos: vs. KC

3. A.J. Green, Bengals: vs. Hou.

4. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans: at Cin.

5. Antonio Brown, Steelers: vs. Cle.

6. Julian Edelman, Patriots: at NYG

7. Odell Beckham, Jr., Giants: vs. NE

8. Amari Cooper, Raiders: vs. Min.

9. Mike Evans, Buccaneers: vs. Dal.

10. Alshon Jeffery, Bears: at Stl.

11. Allen Robinson, Jaguars: at Bal.

12. Dez Bryant, Cowboys: at TB

13. Brandon Marshall, Jets: vs. Buf.

14. Calvin Johnson, Lions: at GB

15. Michael Crabtree, Raiders: vs. Min.

16. Jordan Matthews, Eagles: vs. Mia.

17. Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs: at Den.

18. Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos: vs. KC

19. Willie Snead, Saints: at Was.

20. Brandon LaFell, Patriots: at NYG

Tight ends

1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots: at NYG

2. Tyler Eifert, Bengals: vs. Hou.

3. Greg Olsen, Panthers: at Ten.

4. Martellus Bennett, Bears: at Stl.

5. Ben Watson, Saints: at Was.

6. Gary Barnidge, Browns: at Pit.

7. Travis Kelce, Chiefs: at Den.

8. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks: vs. Ari.

9. Owen Daniels, Broncos: vs. KC

10. Jason Witten, Cowboys: at TB

MOST ADDED PLAYERS

1. James Starks, RB, Packers

2. James White, RB, Patriots

3. Karlos Williams, RB, Bills

4. Derek Carr, QB, Raiders

5. Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins

MOST DROPPED PLAYERS

1. Dion Lewis, RB, Patriots

2. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers

3. Steve Smith, WR, Ravens

4. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Steelers

5. Joseph Randle, RB, Cowboys

Ed Barkowitz, who is very careful to never land his helicopter in the middle of a kids' soccer field, has been writing about fantasy football in the Daily News since 2001.

On Twitter: @EdBarkowitz