FanDuel Drops NFL Injury Refunds as Playoffs Begin. DraftKings & Fanatics Don’t

NFL playoff betting brings higher stakes, tighter margins, and far less patience for bad luck. One snap can swing an entire prop ticket, especially in January. As the postseason opens, sportsbooks now handle that risk very differently.

Good to Know

• FanDuel removed its NFL injury refund offer once the playoffs begin.
• DraftKings and Fanatics Sportsbook confirmed injury protection continues.
• The NFL postseason runs from January 10 through Super Bowl LX on February 8.

FanDuel Removes Injury Refunds Ahead of Postseason

FanDuel confirmed that its NFL injury protection program will not carry into the postseason. The promotion refunded player prop wagers when an athlete exited in the first quarter and failed to return because of injury. That coverage applied only during the regular season.

A FanDuel spokesperson clarified the shift before Wild Card Weekend. He said:

“FanDuel Bet Protect is not available during the NFL Playoffs, and wagers will be settled according to FanDuel House Rules. Other offers fans can take advantage of during the playoffs include No Sweat Bets, Profit Boots, and special Live Profit Boots for second-half action.”

Customer messaging echoed that change, framing the postseason as a different betting environment built around boosts rather than refunds.

Playoff Promotions Pivot Toward Boosts and Rewards

With injury refunds off the table, FanDuel leaned into alternative incentives. Wild Card Rewards allows users to select a card tied to a profit boost that can reach up to 100 percent for opening-round games. Profit Boost Packs remain available throughout the postseason, along with live boosts aimed at second-half wagers.

FanDuel messaging described the shift as Playoff Mode, signaling a clear reset once January football begins.

NFL Playoff Timeline Raises Stakes for Prop Bettors

The NFL postseason begins on Saturday, January 10, 2026, with the Wild Card round and runs through the championship game. The season concludes with Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, 2026, hosted at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Wild Card Weekend traditionally draws heavy volume in player props, especially on quarterbacks, wide receivers, and anytime touchdown markets. Injury protection rules often matter most during these early rounds, when bettors stack multiple selections across a packed slate.

Wild Card Round Schedule

Saturday, January 10

• Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 8:00 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime Video)

Sunday, January 11

• Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
• San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots, 8:00 p.m. ET (NBC)

Monday, January 12

• Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)

DraftKings Keeps Early Exit Coverage Active

DraftKings chose a different route. The sportsbook confirmed that its Early Exit program continues into the NFL playoffs. The offer covers player prop wagers when an athlete leaves due to injury during the first half.

DraftKings shared the update publicly ahead of Wild Card Weekend.

In its post, the sportsbook said:

“Would never leave you unprotected.”

The message positioned injury coverage as part of playoff betting rather than a seasonal bonus.

Fanatics Sportsbook Maintains Injury Protection

Fanatics Sportsbook also confirmed that its injury protection remains active throughout the postseason. The operator highlighted consumer coverage and contrasted its policy with competitors that removed similar offers.

In a press release, Fanatics said:

“While other sportsbooks like FanDuel are prioritizing their parlay business over protecting consumers for the playoffs, FAIR PLAY™ Injury Protection will continue for the NFL playoffs.”

FAIR PLAY™ remains a central theme across Fanatics Sportsbook marketing tied to player props and single-game wagers.