Quick answer: A PrizePicks Reboot is an injury-protection rule for eligible player picks. If you selected More, the player leaves early because of an injury, and the player does not return, the pick can be treated like a DNP and your lineup usually drops down one pick tier instead of automatically losing because of the injury.
PrizePicks rules and eligible sports can change, so always check the current projection details and official PrizePicks terms before submitting a lineup.
When Does a PrizePicks Reboot Apply?
A Reboot usually applies only when the right pick type, injury timing, and return-status rules are all met.
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ATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.What Is a PrizePicks Reboot?
A PrizePicks Reboot is a special injury-protection rule for eligible player projections. It can apply when you pick More on a player, that player leaves early because of an injury, and the player does not return.
When a Reboot applies, the affected pick is removed from your PrizePicks lineup. Your lineup then reverts down by one pick level, similar to how a DNP is handled.
For example, a 5-pick Flex can become a 4-pick Flex, while a 4-pick Power can become a 3-pick Power. The rest of your lineup still counts, but the maximum payout is adjusted because there is one fewer active pick.
This is why PrizePicks users often describe Reboots as injury protection. The feature is designed to reduce the impact of an early injury on an otherwise live lineup, but it does not mean every injured player automatically qualifies.
PrizePicks Reboot Rules: Quick Summary
A PrizePicks Reboot is generally triggered when all three conditions are met:
- You selected More on an eligible player projection.
- The player leaves the game early because of an injury.
- The player does not return under the sport-specific Reboot rules.
If those conditions are met, the pick is usually treated like a DNP. That means:
- The affected pick becomes void.
- Your lineup moves down one pick level.
- The remaining picks in your lineup still count.
- Your payout potential is reduced because the lineup is graded with fewer active picks.
The key point is that Reboot protection is not based only on the fact that a player got hurt. It depends on the pick type, timing, sport, and whether the player returns.
How Do PrizePicks Reboots Work?
PrizePicks Reboots work by adjusting the lineup instead of grading the injured player projection as a normal loss. If the player qualifies for a Reboot, that projection is removed and the lineup drops down by one level.
Here is a simple example:
- You submit a 5-pick Flex lineup.
- One player you selected for More leaves early with an injury and does not return.
- PrizePicks marks that projection as a Reboot.
- Your 5-pick Flex is graded as a 4-pick Flex.
If the remaining four picks are correct, your lineup can still win. The difference is that the payout is based on the adjusted lineup size, not the original 5-pick payout.
| Original Lineup | After One Reboot | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 6-Pick Flex | 5-Pick Flex | One projection is removed and the lineup is graded with 5 active picks. |
| 5-Pick Flex | 4-Pick Flex | The lineup can still win, but the payout is reduced. |
| 4-Pick Flex | 3-Pick Flex | The remaining three projections decide the result. |
| 4-Pick Power | 3-Pick Power | The lineup drops one pick level. |
| 3-Pick Power | 2-Pick Power | The lineup remains active if it still meets PrizePicks eligibility rules. |
| 2-Pick Power | Possible refund or cancellation | If a Reboot leaves too few valid picks, the lineup may be canceled and refunded. |
If more than one player in your lineup qualifies for a Reboot, the lineup can be adjusted more than once. For example, if two players are rebooted in a 6-pick Flex, the lineup may drop to a 4-pick Flex.
PrizePicks may also cancel and refund a lineup if DNPs or Reboots leave only one pick remaining, or if the remaining lineup no longer meets same-team eligibility rules. This is why the final result can depend on the full lineup, not just the injured player.
Which Sports Qualify for PrizePicks Reboots?
PrizePicks currently lists Reboot coverage for the following sports and leagues:
- NFL
- NBA
- WNBA
- MLB
- College football
However, sport-specific rules matter. For MLB, PrizePicks describes the policy around batters, not pitchers. For college football, the official Reboot terms have referred to College Football Playoff games rather than every college football matchup.
That distinction is important. Do not assume every sport, league, player type, or projection qualifies just because the word Reboot appears on PrizePicks. The safest approach is to check the current rules in the PrizePicks app before submitting your lineup.
What Does Not Qualify for a PrizePicks Reboot?
Not every injury or early exit leads to a Reboot. These are some of the most common situations where a Reboot may not apply:
| Scenario | Likely Reboot? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You selected Less on the player | Usually no | Reboots are generally tied to eligible More selections. |
| The player returns later in the game | Usually no | The policy is designed around players who leave and do not return under the applicable sport rules. |
| The player already cleared the projection | Usually no | If the player has already reached the projection, the pick may be graded normally. |
| The player never plays | DNP, not Reboot | A player who does not participate is usually handled under DNP rules. |
| The projection is not eligible for Reboot coverage | No | Eligibility can depend on sport, projection type, and current PrizePicks terms. |
This is where many users get confused. A Reboot is not just an injury refund button. It is a specific rules-based outcome, and the details can vary depending on sport and projection type.
PrizePicks Reboot vs DNP vs Tie
Reboots, DNPs, and ties can all reduce a lineup by one level, but they are not the same thing. Understanding the difference can help you know why your lineup was adjusted.
| Outcome | What It Means | Lineup Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Reboot | An eligible player leaves early because of injury and meets the Reboot conditions. | The pick is removed and the lineup drops down one tier. |
| DNP | The player does not participate in the game or event. | The pick is removed and the lineup usually drops down one tier. |
| Tie | The player lands exactly on the listed projection. | The payout reverts down by one level, but ties are handled differently from DNPs and Reboots in some lineup eligibility situations. |
The practical result can look similar because your lineup may drop from one pick level to another. The difference is why the adjustment happened and whether the remaining lineup is still eligible.
How To Opt In and Receive a PrizePicks Reboot
You do not need to manually opt in to receive a PrizePicks Reboot. If your lineup qualifies, PrizePicks should apply the adjustment automatically after the game or event is officially settled.
That does not always mean the adjustment appears instantly. Player Pick lineups usually need all picks in the group to reach a final result before the full lineup settles. On busy sports nights, final grading can also take additional time.
If you believe a player should have been rebooted but the lineup was graded differently, check the sport-specific rules first. Then review whether the player returned, whether you selected More or Less, and whether the projection type was eligible.
Is the PrizePicks Reboot Policy Good for Users?
Yes, the Reboot policy is generally user-friendly because it reduces the impact of certain early injuries. Without a policy like this, a player leaving early could turn an otherwise strong lineup into a loss through no real fault of the user.
It is still important to understand the limits. A Reboot lowers the lineup size and can reduce the payout. It also does not apply to every pick, every sport, or every injury situation.
That makes it one of the more useful rule differences to consider when comparing DFS sites, but it should not be treated as a replacement for checking injury news, lineup reports, and player status before making picks.
PrizePicks Reboot Example
Here is a simple Reboot example:
- You submit a 4-pick Power lineup.
- You select More on an eligible NBA player projection.
- The player leaves in the first half because of an injury.
- The player does not return in the second half.
- PrizePicks marks the pick as a Reboot.
- Your 4-pick Power becomes a 3-pick Power.
From there, the remaining three picks decide whether the adjusted lineup wins or loses. The injured player no longer counts, but the lineup is no longer graded at the original 4-pick Power payout level.
Does Underdog Fantasy Have Reboots?
Underdog Fantasy does not generally use the same Reboot policy structure as PrizePicks. It may have its own rules for DNPs, injuries, voided picks, or stat corrections, but users should not assume that an injury on Underdog will be handled the same way as a PrizePicks Reboot.
If Reboot-style injury protection is an important feature for you, compare the current rules on each platform before entering a lineup. Policies can change, and the exact treatment may depend on contest type, sport, projection type, and timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Reboot on PrizePicks means an eligible player projection is removed because the player met the Reboot injury conditions. The lineup usually drops down one pick tier and is graded based on the remaining active picks.
Not always. In most cases, a Reboot means the affected pick is removed and the lineup drops down one level. A refund may happen if DNPs or Reboots leave the lineup ineligible, such as having only one pick remaining.
Generally, no. PrizePicks Reboots are typically tied to eligible More picks. If you selected Less on a player who leaves early, the pick is usually not handled the same way as a Reboot.
If the player returns, the pick may not qualify for a Reboot. The policy is generally designed for eligible players who leave early and do not return under the applicable sport-specific rules.
No. A DNP usually means the player did not participate at all. A Reboot applies when an eligible player does participate but leaves early under the Reboot injury rules. The lineup impact can be similar because both can reduce the lineup by one pick level.
PrizePicks currently lists NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, and college football for Reboot coverage. Sport-specific rules can vary, especially for MLB and college football, so check the current terms before submitting a lineup.
