Last Updated: 06/01/2026
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, gradually reducing the league until 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 three bench spots, giving you some flexibility without encouraging stockpiling.
To keep things balanced, each team is limited to one quarterback, ensuring every player has access to an NFL starter.
The Draft
FootballFives leagues use a slow draft format on Sleeper.
This is designed to work across time zones and fit around busy schedules while keeping the draft fair for everyone.
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
Draft start: May 1st at 14:00 GMT
Draft order is randomised once the league is full
Teams that leave before the draft will be replaced and the new manager will inherit the existing draft position
4 hours per pick
Draft runs daily from:
14:00–22:00 GMT
09:00–17:00 EST
10:00–18:00 ET during US daylight saving
Draft pauses overnight and resumes automatically
Autopick is enabled if a pick expires
Autopicks will select the next available player by ADP or from a draft queue if set
Picks are final once made
Replacement managers may take over teams if someone leaves mid-draft
Waivers
When players are eliminated, their rosters become available via waivers.
Waivers operate using Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB). Each player receives $1,000 for the season, so deciding when to spend and when to hold back is part of the strategy.
Scoring
Football Fives uses standard Sleeper Full PPR scoring. Weekly scores determine who remains in the league and who is eliminated.
Why Football Fives Works
• Small rosters keep decisions focused
• Weekly eliminations maintain interest throughout the season
• No trades keeps the playing field level
• Waivers add an extra layer of 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.