For some African players, the NFL's week seven was the continuation of an already great start to the season, and for others it was a chance to turn in personal best performances.
Player of the Week
Romeo Okwara (Detroit Lions - Defensive End #95)
After a few Notable Performances appearances this season, Okwara makes it two in three weeks for the main prize after yet another brilliant effort.
On Sunday, Okwara put in a now-expected savvy and effort-filled performance at the defensive end position as he helped the Lions get a win over the Miami Dolphins.
With six tackles, one sack, one QB hit, two tackles for a loss in the 32-21 victory, Okwara continued to impress as the Lions fought their way to a 3-3 record in week seven.
Personally for Okwara, his four sacks on the season has already made this his most productive campaign, and he has half a season to go.
Notable Performances
Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints - Running Back #41)
Returning to the Africa Zone after a week off and the return of his backfield buddy Mark Ingram, Kamara had mores success running than receiving the ball on Sunday.
With Ingram kept quiet by the Baltimore Ravens, Kamara put in some tough running in and outside the tackles for 17 carries, 64 yards, and one touchdown to help the Saints improve to 5-1 on the season.
Alex Okafor (New Orleans Saints - Defensive End #57)
Okafor and the Saints encountered a Ravens offensive line that had played excellently over the past few weeks, but against the Saints the Ravens failed to stop Okafor from getting his first sack and his best performance of the season so far.
His three tackles, one sack, two QB hits and one pass breakup helped the Saints edge out the 24-23 win. The sack was the lone one allowed by the Ravens offensive line in the game and came in the fourth quarter as the Saints trailed 17-14.
Okafor showed fans, teammates, coaches and opponents that the defensive end from Texas is now completely back from the Achilles injury which he suffered last season.
Samson Ebukam (Los Angeles Rams - Outside Linebacker #50)
Nigeria-born Ebukam is coming into his own this season on a Rams defensive line featuring two All-Pros in Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh.
In the Rams' 39-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers, Ebukam notched three tackles, one sack, two tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble (his second this season). He already has as many sacks in seven games this season as he did all of last season.
David Njoku (Cleveland Browns - Tight End #85)
It's back-to-back weeks in the Africa Zone for Njoku as the second year tight end caught four passes for 52 yards and one touchdown on Sunday, taking him to 31 receptions and two touchdowns for the season.
In the Browns' 26-23 loss to Tampa Bay, Njoku was once again one of the better performers and will need to carry that form into week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers' often unimpressive secondary.
Players to Watch in Week 8
Emmanuel Ogbah (Cleveland Browns - Defensive End #90)
The increasingly competitive Browns may have lost to Tampa Bay but seem to be in the mix each week. Going to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers won't be as difficult a prospect as it historically seems if Nigerian-American defensive end Ogbah can provide more pressure at the line of scrimmage and in the backfield.
C.J. Uzomah (Cincinnati Bengals - Tight End #87)
The Bengals and Nigerian-American tight end Uzomah are coming off a primetime beating at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. Going up against the Buccaneers in week 8 might just be the tonic to get Uzomah back on track.
Germain Ifedi (Seattle Seahawks - Right Tackle #65)
Ifedi had been the whipping boy for the Seahawks' offensive line woes over the past few seasons, but has impressed of late with his solid blocking and now forms one of the top tackle duos in the league this season, alongside left tackle Duane Brown. Next up for Ifedi will be the Detroit Lions, featuring double player of the week, Romeo Okwara.