DraftKings Gives Away Early Exit+ for Free During NFL Week 1: Here’s How to Use It
Updated on 9/10/26
A Major Win for Player Prop Bettors
DraftKings is kicking off the NFL season with a generous promotional offer: Early Exit+ protection is completely free during NFL Week 1. For bettors who regularly place player prop wagers, this is an opportunity to get premium injury protection without paying the usual 3% fee.
Whether you're a season-long player prop specialist or just getting started, this promotion is worth understanding and taking full advantage of during the opening week of the NFL season. Use our DraftKings promo code to sign up for the sportsbook today.
What You're Getting for Free
Early Exit+ typically costs 3% of your wager amount, but during Week 1, DraftKings is waiving that fee entirely. This means you'll get full access to expanded injury protection at no additional cost.
Here's what the free promotion includes:
- Second-half injury coverage: Protection extends beyond just pre-game and first-half injuries to cover incidents occurring during the second half and overtime
- Full stake refunds: On single wagers, if your player gets injured and doesn't return, you get your entire stake back
- Parlay recalculation: On parlays, the injured player's leg is voided and your parlay is recalculated with remaining selections
- No additional cost: Zero 3% fee during Week 1
For context, this protection would normally cost you money. By offering it free during the opening week, DraftKings is essentially handing bettors insurance protection as a promotional incentive.
Which Wagers Can Use Free Early Exit+?
During Week 1, the free Early Exit+ offer applies to eligible NFL player prop wagers across multiple formats:
- Single wagers on full-game player props
- Parlays that include eligible player props
- Same Game Parlays (SGPs) with player prop legs
- Same Game Parlay Plus (SGP+) wagers with player props
The promotion covers pre-game, full-game player prop selections only. Quarter and half props (1Q, 1H) are not eligible, and the same restrictions apply to under props and partial-game selections.
What's Still Not Covered
Even with free Early Exit+ during Week 1, it's important to know the boundaries of protection:
- Only injuries and illnesses qualify: Players who leave due to ejection, coaching decisions, or load management don't trigger protection
- Verification required: The injury must be confirmed by official team or league statement within two hours after the game ends
- Specific wager types excluded: Under props, quarter/half props, and already-determined wagers remain ineligible
- Retail wagers not included: This is an online promotion only
Understanding these limits ensures you don't place a bet expecting protection you won't actually receive.
How to Take Advantage During Week 1
Using the free Early Exit+ promotion is simple:
- Navigate to eligible NFL player prop wagers on the DraftKings Sportsbook
- Build your bet slip with your player prop selections
- Look for the Early Exit+ option—during Week 1, adding it will show $0 fee
- Add Early Exit+ at no cost to expand your injury protection
- Place your wager and enjoy extended protection through the full game
There's no special code needed or separate steps—Early Exit+ will simply be available as a free add-on during Week 1 promotional period.
Strategic Tips for Using Free Early Exit+
With a premium feature available at no cost, here are some smart ways to maximize value:
1. Prioritize High-Injury-Risk Players
Free Early Exit+ is especially valuable when targeting players with historical injury concerns or those returning from offseason injuries. Superstars nearing their prime may have higher injury risk entering a new season.
2. Build Larger Parlays
Early Exit+ becomes more valuable as your parlay grows. With multiple legs at risk, having one player prop leg protected—especially for free—can be the difference between a parlay cashout and a loss.
3. Target Volume Players
Players who see high usage rates (rushing attempts, passing yards, receptions) face higher injury risk simply due to increased involvement. Free protection on these high-volume bets is particularly worthwhile.
4. Don't Overthink Small Bets
While Early Exit+ is free, you still only benefit if your player actually gets injured and qualifies for protection. On very small bets where your expected value is tight, the protection adds meaningful cushion.
5. Combine with Same Game Parlays
SGPs and SGP+ wagers offer free Early Exit+ protection too. This is powerful because you can build multi-leg parlays where one player prop leg is protected while others expose you to normal risk.
The Real Value of This Promotion
To understand the true value, consider what you're normally paying for. A typical Week 1 bet might look like this:
- Without the promotion: A $100 single wager on a player prop with Early Exit+ would cost you $103 ($100 wager + $3 fee)
- With the Week 1 promotion: That same $100 wager gets Early Exit+ protection for just $100
On a $500 parlay with multiple player props, you'd normally pay an extra $15 in Early Exit+ fees. During Week 1, that protection is free.
Over a full season, the 3% fee can add up significantly. A week of free protection is genuinely valuable, especially for bettors who rely heavily on player props.
Limited Time—Don't Miss It
This is a Week 1-only promotion. Once the opening week concludes, Early Exit+ returns to its standard 3% cost.
If you're planning to bet on NFL player props during Week 1 anyway, there's absolutely no downside to adding free Early Exit+ protection to your wagers. It's genuine insurance at zero cost, made available for a limited time.
Bottom Line
DraftKings' free Early Exit+ promotion during NFL Week 1 is a genuinely customer-friendly offer. Whether you're a seasoned player prop bettor or someone just dipping your toes into the waters, the free expanded injury protection is worth understanding and utilizing.
Take advantage while it lasts. Add Early Exit+ to your eligible Week 1 wagers, enjoy the expanded protection, and kick off the NFL season with one less thing to worry about.
The promotion ends after Week 1, so make every eligible wager count.
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