NOW DRAFTING FOR THE 2026/27 NFL SEASON

Last Updated: 05/05/2026

Football Fives is a new fantasy football format built around simplicity, strategy, and weekly pressure.

Leagues are hosted on Sleeper and start with 32 players, all competing across the NFL regular season to see who can survive until the end.

The idea is simple: build a strong five-player roster, manage it carefully, and score enough points each week to stay in the game.

The League Format

Each league begins in Week 1 with 32 players.

At the end of every gameweek, the two lowest-scoring teams are eliminated. Once eliminated, that player leaves the league and their entire roster is released to the waiver wire for the remaining players to pick from.

This process repeats every week until just two players remain in Week 16, who compete to decide the winner.

Rosters & Lineups

Each team fields a compact roster designed to keep decisions meaningful.

Starting lineup:

  • 1 Quarterback
  • 1 Running Back
  • 1 Wide Receiver
  • 1 Tight End
  • 1 Flex (RB/WR/TE)


You also have:

  • 3 bench spots
  • 1 IR slot

Quarterback Rule

To keep things balanced in a 32-team league:

  • Teams are limited to 1 QB during the draft
  • After the draft, the QB limit increases to 2 QBs


This ensures:

  • Every team secures a starting QB
  • Managers can pick up a backup for BYE weeks if they choose
  • The format keeps its structure, while avoiding forced drops or empty lineups

Injured Reserve (IR)

Each team has 1 IR slot.

  • Only players officially placed on IR are eligible
  • IR cannot be used for BYEs or standard OUT designations


This helps reduce the impact of long-term injuries without removing the challenge of roster management.

The Draft

Football Fives leagues use a slow draft format on Sleeper.

This allows players across multiple time zones to draft fairly without needing to be online at the same time.

Key draft rules are outlined below. A full explanation of how and why the slow draft works is available on the Draft Overview page.

 

Draft Rules (Summary)

  • Draft format: Snake
  • Draft start: May 1st at 14:00 BST
  • Draft order is randomised once the league is full
  • If a player leaves before the draft, their replacement inherits the draft position
  • 4 hours per pick



Draft Schedule

The draft runs daily during the following window:

  • 14:00 – 23:00 BST
  • 09:00 – 18:00 ET


The draft pauses overnight and resumes automatically the next day. Please note you are still able to pick during the pause. It is the timer that is paused, not the overall draft.


Additional Rules

  • Autopick is enabled if a pick expires
  • Autopicks select the next available player by ADP or from your queue
  • Picks are final once made
  • Replacement managers may take over teams mid-draft if needed
View Draft Overview

Waivers

When players are eliminated, their rosters are released to waivers.

Waivers run on a FAAB system, with each player receiving $1,000 for the season.

Managing your budget is a key part of the game, knowing when to spend and when to hold back.

Scoring

Football Fives uses standard Sleeper Full PPR scoring, with an additional rule:

  • Tight Ends receive +0.5 points per reception (TEP)


This increases the value of the position and improves overall draft balance in a 32-team format.

Weekly scores determine who stays and who is eliminated.

Why Football Fives Works

  • Small rosters keep decisions focused
  • Weekly eliminations keep every team engaged
  • No trades keeps things fair
  • Waivers add constant strategy


It’s a different way to play fantasy football, designed to stay competitive from Week 1 to Week 16.

Football Fives leagues are hosted on the Sleeper platform. Football Fives is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sleeper.