Heads up, degenerates: if you're betting player props on FanDuel this playoff weekend, you're flying without a safety net.

FanDuel quietly killed its Bet Protect injury-protection program for the NFL postseason. That promotion that refunded your prop bet when a player got hurt in the first quarter and didn't return? Gone. Over. Dead for the playoffs.

Meanwhile, DraftKings and Fanatics are keeping their injury protection going strong.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: FanDuel ended Bet Protect for NFL playoffs
• The competition: DraftKings and Fanatics continue their programs
• FanDuel's response: "The playoffs deserve Playoff Mode" (whatever that means)
• Fanatics' clap back: Called FanDuel out for "prioritizing parlay business over protecting consumers"

What FanDuel Said

A FanDuel spokesperson told Covers that "FanDuel Bet Protect is not available during the NFL Playoffs, and wagers will be settled according to FanDuel House Rules."

Translation: if your guy gets hurt in the first quarter, you're eating that bet.

FanDuel is offering other promotions instead — Wild Card Rewards, profit boosts, No Sweat Bets. But those aren't the same thing as getting your money back when variance and injury luck screw you.

The Competition Responds

DraftKings wasted no time dunking on the competition. They posted: "Would never leave you unprotected" and confirmed their Early Exit program (which covers injuries through the first half) will continue through the entire postseason.

Fanatics went even harder. Their statement: "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."

They also noted they paid out over $17 million in Fair Play refunds during the regular season. That's real money going back to bettors.

Why This Matters

Player props are one of the highest-margin products for sportsbooks. They're also one of the riskiest for bettors because injury luck can kill your bet before your guy even gets a chance.

Picture this: You bet on a running back's rushing yards. First quarter, he takes a weird hit and doesn't return. Game script changes. Your bet is dead. Under the regular-season rules, FanDuel would have refunded that. Now? You lose.

The gambling industry winners and losers of 2025 included sportsbook hold rates that crushed bettors. This feels like another edge the books are taking back.

Should You Switch Books?

Look, we're not here to tell you where to bet. But information matters, and here's the information:

DraftKings Early Exit: Covers player props through the first half. If your player exits due to injury in the first half and doesn't return, you get refunded.

Fanatics Fair Play: Similar protection. $17 million paid out to bettors during the regular season.

FanDuel Bet Protect: Not available during playoffs.

If you're betting heavy player props this weekend — and playoff weekends are when the action gets spicy — this might be worth factoring into your decision.

The Bottom Line

FanDuel decided the playoffs are when they stop protecting player prop bettors from injury luck. DraftKings and Fanatics decided the playoffs are when they keep that protection going and dunk on their competitor in the process.

Wild Card Weekend starts tomorrow. Six games. Endless prop opportunities. Choose your sportsbook accordingly.

And hey, maybe this is FanDuel's way of telling us to bet game lines instead. Message received, I guess.